Chapters 18-19 Summary and Analysis

In Chapter 18, Twain is at sea once again to visit the great volcano in Hawaii. The craft, a schooner called "Boomerang," is small for his taste. Twain and the other "quality folk" are squeezed into the "sacred" aft portion of the ship. The remainder of the deck is occupied by natives who lounge upon the floor eating, smoking and socializing. Twain describes his small cabin in unflattering terms and complains that a nearby, perpetually-crowing rooster is a constant annoyance.

Twain is denied sleep through a conspiracy of bugs, rats, and the aforementioned rooster. Taking to the deck, Twain is briefly struck by the beauty of the silvery moonlit sea, only to have his reverie interrupted by a seasick Mr. Brown. Not knowing what to do, Twain does his best to amuse his ill colleague. Finally Twain recites a poem...