Nimrod of the sea, or The American whaleman

Chapter I

Story of Ohther and King Alfred.—First Whaling in America.— Work proposed in this History.—My Owner.—The young Candidate.—Papers signed, and we sail,—The first Reef.—Going Aloft.—The Chelsea.—The Crew.—The Outfit, —Fo0d..........ccccccsessnecnsscecsscereossccsanseseee Page 13

Chapter II

Uneventful Passage.—Captain’s Inaugural.—Mast-head and Place in Boat. —Discipline in Boats, and first Whale raised.—Awkwardness of Crew, and Whale lost.—Music and Song a Necessity.—Hinton, the Nightingale.—The Yarn as Mental Food.—Forecastle Philosophy.—Burrows's Theory of the Gulf Stream.—Whales pass under the Isthmus of Davien.—Ben Coffin. —His Idea of Luxury..........ccesceseeseeeseeee ones anti 23

Chapter III

Ben’s first Whale.—Struck on a Breach.—Cedar cracking, and Ben goes up.—As he rises from deep Water he meets Captain Davis coming down.—He takes a Departure, and strikes out for New London.—Chipman confirms the Yarn.—Albatross, and one sent homeward as Messenger.—The Pilot-fish, and its long Passages.— Work of the Watches, and learning the Rigging.—Washing, Mending, and other Accomplishments of the Sailor.—Lessons taught on the Forehatch of the Chelsea. —My Crony Posey.—His Love Story.—Why the Nobility of Nantucket go Whaling.—Posey's Ambition.—The Secret of Nantucket’s first Success.—Successful whaling Co-operation.—Obed Macy’s Description of WALI GS isuacaiastecnibiacenan cies daletahaumadianmaipaokdannpenaes Ganosacsaraeraneaaneay et 34

Chapter IV

A brave, righteous Man first Settler of Nantucket.—EHarly English and Dutch History of Whaling.—Bounties and Immunities granted by Britain.—Captain Wilkes’s Picture of American Whaling.—Preparation to weather the Cape.—Able Seamanship of our Whale Captains. —Constant Vigilance of Captain B——, and slight Toss of Whalemen.— Where the Whaleman shows to best advantage.— Run to 62° S, latitude, and meet a favoring Gale. — ‘The ‘‘Lay” and Fibre of a Cape Yarn: Hinton’s last Passage around.—The great icy Barrier, and Home of Mother Carey.—A Gale of Wind in the Ice. ..........seeseeeeeeeeeeeaee 51

Chapter V

The Aurora Borealis, and Explanation.—Coleridge’s Mistake in the ‘‘Antient Mariner."—The Mother Carey’s Chicken.—Ben moralizes on this little Bunch of Feathers.—Captain Folger’s Luck.—The Devil no Match for a Gale of Wind off Cape Horn when the Skipper is bound to carry.— The Cape doubled, and we come on Cruising-ground.—Boats’ Crews Watches established.—Idle Time on Cruising-ground.—The Length of Cruises.—Fasten to our first Whale. ..........cesceee eiksGassusiosion sees Page 63

Chapter VI

The Phenix, of Nantucket. — ‘‘ Cutting-in” first Whale. — Boat-steerer goes over the Side to hook on.—Choice between drowning and Sharks. —Immense Power required.—Blanket-piece.—Misapprehension regarding Size, corrected.— Deep Surgery.— The Head.— The Junk.—The Case, and the Bailing.—The Spermaceti Bath.—Contents of the Case.— ‘Trying-out, and Ship drifting. —Bill in the Blubber-room.—Night Scene in trying-out.—The Suffering of this first ae —But we will soon harden to that.—Want of Sleep...........sees08 peteneres auessideetaai rds - 77

Chapter VII

How to save Jack.—Mr., Deil, of Honolulu, tried successfully.—Run down the Coast.—View of the Cordilleras.—Disappointed in the first View of Peru.—Touched at Callao, and ran on to Payta.—Captain ran counter to the Laws.—Chipman prepares to defend the Boat.—Pistol and Lance drawn.—Liberty on Shore, and Effects of Aguadiente. —Adjourn to the Calaboose.—Africa against Peru.—Chips joins the Company in poetic Mood.—The good Captain’s Advice and WAITINg........csescsecesenees 93

Chapter VIII

Volcanic Desolation.—To Black Beach for Terrapins.—We reject Green Turtle.—Strange new Life.—Town ho!—First Terrapin.—A live Knapsack. — Grandfather as an Angler. — Supper in Camp. — Terrapin and Iguana. —Jim Sellers’s Philosophy, and probationary State for Captains.—Watch by the Camp-fires.—Breakfast, and proper Stowage of Grub.—A Cruise up into the Island............ccessessesesseeeer eiieatieese 102

Chapter IX

Springs of Water from the living Rocks.—A new Dish, and simple Cookery.—A Supper, and permission to Kings to sup.—We return to Camp. —Up Anchor for Cocos Island.—At Anchor again.—Anticipations of Tropical Luxuriance exceeded.—Description of the Growths.—Quarrels settled.—Bottom of the Bay, and beauty thereof.—Wild-boar Hunt.— Description of our Game.—Absence of Food elements in Cocos Island contrasted with the Abundance at the Galapagos.—Remarkable qualities of the ‘Terrapin. —Abundance and Variety of Fishes. —Weigh Anchor for Selango to wood Ship.—A Plan to desert proposed and declined.—The Wreck of Forests found at Sea.........cccccceesssecnsccesecteeeseceaees Page 112

Chapter X

Anchor in Selango Bay.—An Afternoon’s Liberty.—The People and their Houses.—Beautiful building. Materials and comfortable Homes.—Contrivance to keep noxious Vermin from the Houses.—Furniture.—Spaniard circumventing Monkey.—Monkey circumventing Spaniard.—Fruits, and the Cherimoya in particular.— Visit to Banana-orchard. —Crabs which are red, and that do run backward.— Wooded on the Rubbertree, and sought Store of Limes.—See our first Monkeys.—Abundance of Monkeys revealed; pelt them with Oranges.—Cheapness of Fruits. — Ship richly supplied with Fruits..............ccscescssseeeeeeeeeeeseseneserene 126

Chapter XI

The Boat lowered, and the Men leave the Ship.—Residuary Legatee, and Preparation of the Chests, with national Song.—Second Mate makes a Discovery, and discourseth thereon.—Muster-roll called, and armed Boat ordered away.—Give up Chase, and attack on Case-bottle.—Weigh Anchor for Payta.—Description of Balsa Rafts. —A Providence for maritime Men in the placing of Timber.—Shoal of swimming Crabs, —Black-fish Chase.—Arrive at Payta, and ship eight Men.............ccssseesseevenes 134

Chapter XII

Leave Payta, and Long Tom’s first Whale.—Bridled Whale.— Bow-oar hauling on.—Bill on Cephalopods.—Ben on the Squid.—Ben on Whale’s Feeding.—Long Tom and Reef Squid.—Sandwich Islander on Polypus. —Troublesome Tenant.......sc:cceceesecsesesescsseeeessesessaserssseveeesnes 141

Chapter XIII

The Sperm-whale as it appears to Whalemen.—As a game Animal.—Idle Life on board, and Prizes for raising Whale.— Pig Sacrifice.—Whaleman in the Boat.— The Perfection of Whale-boat.— Equipment of the Whale-boat.—Retrospection in Boat........scsseseeees giaxieaste seeatacanaen 155

Chapter XIV

A Whale-chase.—Boat stove, and novel Rescue.—Spade to stop running Whale. —The good Captain savage. — Fast Line, and Captain cooled down.—Captain apologizes:— On Hand and Gun Harpoons.— Handlance and Bomb-lance.—Erroneous Figures of Whales.— Cuvier’s Explanation. —Desmaret and Lesson. — Explanation of Illustration of Sperm-whale.—Sight of the Whale.—Description of Head.—Ben Russell’s Pictures.—Professors Jameson and Murray.—A Harper’s Whale. —dJardin and Beal’s Figures ...... Gu salanienrastistle wianclessuaantoUnenpamtravens 162

Chapter XV

Enormous Supply. of Blood in the Whale.—Sir John Hunter’s' Views.— Whales’ Spouts.—The Life.—Spouting thick Blood, dies of Suffocation. —Flurry.—Fin out.—Telegraphing.—The ‘‘Glip,” or Wake.—‘‘ Lobtailing.” —‘‘ Breaching” and ‘‘ Sounding.”—Turning Flukes.—Regularity in the Spouting, Time of Blowing, Submergence, and Speed of Whales discussed. —Description of Spout.—Errors of Naturalists on the Spout.—Skin of Whale.—Flesh and Blood.—Their Young.—Period of Gestation.—Whale’s Office in the Millenniim.—Age of Whales measured by the Teeth.—Sand-marks on the Teeth as affecting Question of Food.— Settling of Whales.—Size of Whales and their Proportions.—My Views indorsed by old Whalemen.—Jumper, and Captain Scott, R.N.—Captain Basil Hall’s return from Dinner ashore, and what he saw.—Power of Whales to remain under Water at Will, and Captain West’s Opinion.— Opinions of Captains Gardener, Covill, and West.— No Blood in the Whale’s immense Case and Junk.— Queries suggested thereby on Circulation and Animal Heat.—Offices of the Oil glanced at.—Cold Currents of the Pacific. —Sperm-whales frequent these...........+.0.eFage 175

Chapter XVI

Loss of Ship Union by a Whale.—Captain G——’s Experience with » Sperm-whale.— Whaling favorable to Longevity.—Monument in Sag. Harbor to six young Captains proves the Contrary.—Loss of a whole Boat’s Crew.—Captain Henry Huntting and his good Fortune.—Captain James Huntting carried down by a Whale, and cutting Line.—One of his Crew recovered from the Line, and improvised Surgery............. 190

Chapter XVII

A Quarrel, and Knife drawn.—Portuguese flogged, and Reflections thereon. —Sunday on Board, and Library.—Religion on Board.—Pythagoras on Board.—The Providence for Sailors.—Books in Demand, and Kind.— Chips and his Journal.—Chips in the Battle of Plattsburg.—His Views of the Sabbath.—Right-whale Porpoise taken.—Five hours’ Chase unsuccessful.—Another Chase successful.—Rock of Dunda mistaken for a Ship.—Fishing off Abington Island.—Second Visit to Cocos Island.— Hector, of New Bedford.—Hunt for wild Hogs........ssssesesssceeeeeeees 198

Chapter XVIII

Race with the Hector.—Alternate Success.—Our final Triumph.—Bone-shark.—Anchored at Charles Island.—No Water, no Woman, and took to Fishing.—Eimira, Captain Marchant, and Preparations for a Fandango.—Governor Villamill comes on Board, and Captain gives all Hands a Drink by Proxy.—Details on Defense, and how thg Yankees did it.— Hunt a Bull.—Hunted in Turn.—Bull killed, and a Row............ +» 208 é

CONTENTS. a

Chapter XIX

Post-office of the Galapagos.—Sefiora Villamill’s Monkey.—Farewell to the Galapagos.—An unfortunate and mutinous Ship.—The wide range of Whalemen.—Burke’s Eulogy on American Whalemen.—The Mutiny. —Bingham’s Row with second Mate.—Council of War in Forecastle.— The difficult Decision.—Man tied up.—Hans returns Good for Evil, and strikes back, and Row generally.—The Captain slashes round...Page 220

Chapter XX

The Captain’s Law.—Man cut down.—Ship adrift with Yards aback.— Men refuse Duty, and still drifting.—The ‘‘ Round Robin.”—Make sail for Sandwich Islands.—The Treaty, and a Peace-offering.—Remarkable Tenacity of Life in Sperm-whale.—Finback.—Gam with Adeline Gibbs, Captain West.— Greenwich and Mean Time compared. — Fighting Sperm-whale of the Galapagos.—A Yankee Trick on a Whale.—How Whalemen are made: Cabin-boy at ten, Master at twenty-two,—Love of the Profession. —The Sailor dreams he is Captain, and goes on a Whale.—Shyness of Whales rather than diminished Numbers lengthens Voyages.— Balloon suggested to take Whales.— Water-spouts discussed.— Mowee raised, and anchored at Honolulu.—Sad History of the Washonk. —Slaughter of the Crew, and recovery of the Ship.+ Smuggling Rum on Board.— Pig-headed Perversity ......-++sseeseesses 229

Chapter XXI

Angling for Sharks. —Shark in Stays.—Carpenter of the Jolly Ananias and unfortunate Shark.—Land-sharks dealing with our Crew.—Consular Brutality and Injustice.—Six Months in an Indian Fort awarded.—A surly Crew at the Windlass.—Captain’s Speech, and Comments.—Our Kanaka Crew.—Speed of Whales argued.—The Run described.—Coughs and Colds.— General ‘Wretchedness.— Tropical Rains and Water-spouts.— Want of Faith in Science avowed.—Job on Rain and bad Weather. 248

Chapter XXII

Water-spout described.— Query: Effect on Newton’s Theory.— Kanaka Hymns.—Stupor and Gloom.—The old Woman's Curse.—Flying-fish.— Dolphin.—Albicore a sign of Whales.— Angling for Albicore.—Poisonous Fish.—Influence of the Moon on Fish and Men.—A benevolent Enemy.—Scrimshoning and Pigs.—The Pig as a Pillow.—Man-of-war Hawk.—Strange Companionship at Mast-head 258

Chapter XXIII

New Theory of the Flight of Birds.—The Bird a Balloon.—Adventure with a Shark, and a Man in Danger.— Questioning Darwinian Theory.— Grinding Crow-bars to Sail-needles.—A Gam of Whales, and five killed.

—A Ten-barrel Whale and Boat stove.—Death boards us.—A sad and suffering Death-bed.—Lowered for Whales.—A dead Shipmate, and Respect for a dead Body.—Funeral at Sea, Sperm-whales attending.—In a Region of small Whales.— Pets of the Ship, Cats; Monkey, and his hove Of Eggs wisscsissaxasevesvaswccsaeswscwaccaccessxescts sages ceases cave de Page 267

Chapter XXIV

Game-cock as a Time-keeper.—Cockroaches in an Economical Point of View.—Medical Practice adapted to Working-men.—Fancies, and Sickness on Board.—Cure for Scurvy.—Captain Mathew’s Story of Boiled Eggs.—Extravagant Use of Butter and Sugar.—Etiquette of Meals.— Want of the Same on the Forecastle.—Grub, and Manner of Serving. — Coral Island seen.—Small Whale, and Stove Boat.— Wash-day.—Antonio as Washer-woman, and Chemical Experiments on him.—Grand Incantation and Appearance Of Satanus .........ccsesssseeeeesestsseeaeneene 280

Chapter XXV

“¢St. Elmo’s Fires,” close Examination of; Superstitions on. — Longfellow and Shakspeare Versious.—Phosphorescence of the Sea.— Riding the Gale aloft, and ravishing Sights. —Second Mate sick, and Reconciliation.— Killer Whales, and Modes of Attack: unsuccessful Chase for

, One.—Boat-mending, and Flying Squid.—Plenty of Fish, and Jib car-

. vied away.—Approaching Land, and Smell of the Land.—Land Dead Ahead, and the Mystery thereof.—The Reason of Man proved equal to the Instinct of the Bird. —Owyhee in Sight...........ccceeeceeseeneeeeeees 290

Chapter XXVI

Coasting the north Side.— Natives fishing from flying Canoe.— Native Trade.— Native Songs, and Tradition of Love of Pele for Kamehameha.—Conflict between the Chiefs of Hawaii and Maui, and Féte of -Swimming.—Kealakeakua Bay the Scene of Cook’s Death.—Our Anchorage.— Three beautiful Boys, and my Hycamee.— A profitable Investment:— A naked Kanaka civilized from the Breech upward.— Liberty on Shore, and a Feast.—Cooking described.—Place of Burial.—Taboo, and the peaceable Dispositions of the Children. —The Mothers diving for Shells, and Emulation.—Inability to take Shore Exercise...........++ 300

Chapter XXVII

Practicing Casts by a Disciple of Izaak Walton.—We come back to Dinner, and join a Procession.—The Dinner in classic Style.—Visit from Governor Adams,—A great Man in Avoirdupois.—Second Visit Ashore.— Tapa-making.—Wyhenne in Search of Ideas, and her Disgust.—Cook’s Monument.—Incident in the Fight, showing Coolness in the Natives. — We go Fishing.—Trolling from double Canoe.—Mr. Baldwin preaches on Board.—We weigh Anchor for Oahu...........csscecsesssccersereseesene SLL

Chapter XXVIII

Jack of Owyhee sings the Song of Haleakala, and the Wars of Fire, Water, Air, and the Sands.—Admirable Qualities of the Kanakas.—Sunday at Honolulu.—Onuter Anchorage.—Fitting Ship for long Cruise.—Mr. Deil, Seaman’s Chaplain.—Drunkenness on Shore.—Meeting Daniel Wheeler, and we disagree.—Good News of our imprisoned Shipmates. —The Power of the United States interposed, and they are liberated. — Weigh Anchor for Japan.—A Woman swims thirty Hours.—Mr. S—— left at the Islands.—Reach Japan, and Bill is promoted...... sdaussweata «Page 319

Chapter XXIX

Céckroaches as Hunters of the wicked Flea, and as Scavengers. —Swarming Schools of Albicore.—First Japan Whale raised.—Tame Whales,— Darkness approaching.— Lost Whale.— A Gale of Wind, and Trouble in holding Whale.—Slaughter of Sharks.—Sharks suggested for the Amphitheatre.—Cutting-in under Difficulties. —Animal Life surrounding us, —Sword-fish and Albicore.—Taking the Sword-fish.—Whales lost and taken.—Active Work in the Boats.—Whales every Day.—Bill’s first Chance.—An exciting Approach, and one hit.—Gam with the Caroline, of London.—Musical Inharmony, and a Row.—We are ordered in to the Boat, where the Song is finished. —Fourth of July Celebration....... . 826

Chapter XXX

The shaded Side of the Picture: a heartless Captain, and unhappy Crew.— We take an Englishman from her: a Waif of the Alliance.—Two small Whales taken.—Three Whales struck, one taken.—‘‘ Shall I pick you up?” ‘*No; kill that Whale.”— A butting Whale killed under the Counter of an English Ship.—He is Unlucky.—Cruelty to the Islanders. —wWhales getting wild ; several lost............:cccssceeeccccesesseresrenees 339

Chapter XXXI

Posey’s first Whale, and lost Whale; we struck him, he struck back.—The Boat crushed by his Jaw, but Whale saved.—Boat cut in two by a Whale, and Hinton a Shade whiter.—The Portuguese Man-of-war, or Sea-nettle.—Passage from Japan.—Pets all consumed.—Grub does not improve with Age.—Minutes longer by Day and shorter at Night.—Bully Sprague, and Jonah’s Whale.—Well-spun Yarns a Necessity. —Captain Covill, and fighting Whale.—Boat bit in two.—'Tried to butt the Shipsiscssesvoreessiwsrnces ddsiewancavenecneceemvastivdvateesavenvunveaexevveveesseds 345

. CHAPTER XXXII.

Captain Huntting, and fighting Whale off the Rio de la Plata.—Bomb-lance failed to kill.—Four Boats lost, and their Gear.—The Whale holds the Field.—A demoralized Crew allowed to desert.—Two Years out, and we

1* double back: a running Sketch of Month’s voyaging.— The Washing- . ton, of Nantucket: two Men killed.—Her third Mate caught in the Jaw, and bitten.—The Ocean, of Nantucket: Mate killed. —Weigh Anchor in Valparaiso Harbor, and sail for Right-whale Grounds. — Bear versus Skunk; or, Theory versus Fact.—Approach the Right Whale with mis- GivINGS .........0. iasiWicthabtiaielsne ease eaadles abled bern e chon ae aoa ciwtaieeserereaees Page 357

Chapter XXXII

Head of the Right Whale.—Description of Drawings of Whale’s Head.— Contrasts between the Right and Sperm Whales.—Different Manceuvres of Boats necessary in attacking the two.—Dispositions of these Whales. —Natural History of the Right Whale better understood.—The Sperm-whale a Mystery.—The weak Point in the Right Whale, not mentioned by Scoresby.—Instant Arrest of forward Motion.—Pricking the Nose to direct the Course of the Whale.—Immediate Consequences of touching the Small.—Fastening to Right Whale.—Winrows of Brit, and Whaling-ground off-Chiloe Island; go on Whale.—Struck Blubber, and Iron failed to enter.—An Iron in Blow-hole, and Effect illustrated.—Large Right Whales.—Dimensions in Detail of Right Whale.—The upper Jaw considered as a Dining-room.—Tongue equals ten Oxen.—Mode of working its sifting Apparatus. —Dimensions continued ............sseeseseeeee 368

Chapter XXXIV

Try-works overboard. —Dreaming.—Adventure of Captain I—— H—— with a fighting Right Whale.—Two Men lost, and fearful Peril of the Captain.—A Fight of Three-quarters of an Hour. —Ship fails to part the Combatants; Captain saved by Mate’s Boat.—Why Right Whales sink.—Greenland Whales, or Bow-head.—First Bow-head taken by Captain Covill.— Entrance of Whalemen to Behring Strait.— Edible parts of the Whale.—Sad Picture of the Ship and Crew.—In Talcahuana.— Weigh Anchor for Home:—Doubling Cape Horn.—Touch at Pernambuco, and meet Gale off Bermuda.—Cold and Fog off Long Island.— Land in New London.— Hospitality. — Profit and Loss Account.— Arvive in Philadelphia, and Finis ............cssccessecesseccvereoesvsneeeeneeee 383 APPENDIX Au... cccceeseeseeeteteseeeces iUeauaassewaiy ats aiuse Nau slacais eer, dies eaadavs 397 APPENDIX B...........4 sfewaaatae dcewieaeramdeadas dae suetve cae ensehiveaeeneeenaseRys 399

ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE IN THE WHALES JAW ....csscccsscccccnuncsccsccnsccusenees sesscaseseeeE rontispiece, ‘(BEEN ABOARD THE CHELSEA YET?"...cccccccccsscsssssecessssssserseeseeee 16 ‘“THERE SHE BLOWS!” pccsseracaeiarcrdeuseeenerties Sipnacnantiesmmene 128 STRUCK ON A BREACH...........c000000e wis ict asad ceutaeomiatccesioa iets Ge uaewanaie:, NANTUCKET SCHOOLING.........cc00ceecees Caitlin ganbsleonmrmantiniemaaouaraneciaiy OEM LIGHT-HOUSE, SANKATY HEAD..........ccccesceccscctcescatccseescucrerssscsenes 49 THE SEA BEYOND, THE SHINING WALL.......:ccscceeceeceetectsecserssascenee 60 CAPTAIN FOLGER'S LUCK isceisvsssscvnisecsessesscecssrsrertaesessvuvenis success, 69 IN A SCHOOL jsursevesnsaticcimassuststavonceindstrieeeteetasdetvememae 74 EN CUDTING IN. fils 33, 5 caccasuscnetsawneaaindies ganueusaaseaiselensunecs BAILING THE ‘‘ CASE”. .....cssccseceeeees TRYING OUT. « 83 THE PRISONER .....

TROPICAL GROWTHS.

CORALS AND MADREPORES SOME FISH. ; EIGHT-ARMED CUTTLE-FISH (SEPIA OCTOPUS). MEMORIAL PICTURE...

OUTLINES OF SPERM-WHALE.

WHALE ‘‘ BREACHING”. *A NIMROD OF THE SEA.

A LAND-SHARK.

GRGABS! ADRIFT, ji..c.cecssaeecuecesinescneinsedaasaehascescsceecnettgepremeeerenden GOL SECTION OF RIGHT WHALE’S HEAD (MOUTH SHUT)...sccccsecseecereeeees BIO SECTION ACROSS RIGHT WHALE’S HEAD (MOUTH OPEN)......ceseeee2 873

GOING ON RIGHT WHALE........-ssssccssecccsescnaceessecesucevessscseessceesees OLD 894

NIMROD OF THE SEA;

oR,

THE AMERICAN WHALEMAN.

Chapter I

Story of Ohther and King Alfred.— First Whaling in America.— Work proposed in this History.—My Owner.—The young Candidate.—Papers signed, and we sail.—The first Reef.—Going Aloft.—The Chelsea.—The Crew.—The Outfit.—Food.

My story of whaling, to begin,at the beginning, should tell how King Alfred, of blessed memory, listened to the wondrous stories of whaling told by “Ohther, the Norway man,” and how he was so charmed by the recital that he published, for the benefit of his subjects, information to the effect that Ohther “coasted along the country of the Fins (Lapland) until he passed the North Cape, and penetrated the great White Sea—the same which washes the icy barrier of the Arctic Pole-—wherein he found great whales of forty-eight and fifty elns in length, the same being so exceedingly numerous and tame that Ohther, with the help of five men, could kill sixty of them in two days.” The average Englishman is not impulsive, and he slept over the good Alfred’s hint for six hundred and ninety-three years, when, in 1593, some English ships made a voyage to Cape Breton for the morse and whale fishery. Such was the beginning of this brave and adventurous business by people who think and speak in our mother-tongue. The same adventurous spirit, transplanted in America, struck deep root, and brought forth a rich harvest from the sea.

The first recorded agreement concerning the capture of whales in America commences in this wise:

“Ye 5th day of ye 4th month, 1672. James Loper doth ingage to carry a design of whale-catching on the island of Nantucket. That is to say, James ingages to be a third in all respects, and some of the Town ingages on the other two-thirds in like manner, etc.”

' Behold in the wonderful history of American whaling how great a flame this little spark kindled. The practical mother-wit, or gumption, which characterized the early American found expression in this first adventure in this most perilous profession. In this agreement we find that subdivision in interest, that co-operation of capital, skill, labor, and courage which ultimately secured a prosperous career to the Americans, made them masters in the business, and drove the men and ships of all other nations from the whale-fishery.

Just two centuries from the date of the above contract, or about “ye 5th day of ye 4th month,” 1872, my good angel wrote to me, saying: “ Overhaul your journal of a whaling voyage to the Pacific, and give us a history of American Whaling by pen and pencil. Fling yourself into the work; write of that strange life as you saw it from the forecastle and the mast-head, from the boats and the quarter-deck. Put into it all the poetry and rapture, the danger and the deviltry, the enjoyment and the suffering, with all the history you have in your memory or have access to. To be statistical and tedious is a felony; but history can be made as charming as romance, without losing any of its value.” Such were my directions, and, sailing by that chart, I open the old oil-stained pages of my journal, and therein find that on the 11th day of ye 10th month, 18—, I, Bill Seaman,

‘BEEN ABOARD THE OHELSEA YET?”

bow-oar with divers others, including captain’s mates and harpooners, did “Ingage to carry on a design of whale-catching” in the Atlantic, the Pacific, and all other waters to the uttermost ends of the earth, wheresoever whales did swim; and “some of the town of New London did ingage with us in like manner, in proportions” as set forth in the ship’s articles of the good bark Chelsea, Major Thomas A. Williams, owner. And here, before I begin my. narrative, I wish to bespeak indulgence toward one of its features. It is based on the well detailed journal of a foremast-hand, who rose to boat-steerer; therefore it is written from the stand-point of the forecastle, and the quarter-deck is treated of as an object of a laudable ambition. My journal is used as a cord on which are strung the experiences and adventures of others, such as I have been enabled to pick up in the form of yarns on board the Chelsea. Omitting a date to my voyage, I am thus enabled to give the experiences of a quarter of a century. About the internal economy of our ship I write as the boyish sailor ; and I ask you old captains, in imagination, to sit barefooted on an old sea-chest as you read my story as I sat to write it.

Is it necessary that I should recount how complaisant the major was before I signed the ship’s articles? It appeared that the major was anxious to fill up his crew, that the vessel might not be detained when her fitting was completed ; and doubtless, as he regarded the tall, slender, and rather weakly youth before him, he deemed it necessary to throw in an encouraging word to strengthen good resolutions:

“ Ah! you’re from Pennsylvania. Very good place that: a little too far from salt-water to be wholesome, I guess. Salt air will soon put color in your cheeks, You think you'll like the sea? of course you will. Nice life—very, if you take to itright. Been aboard the Chelsea yet? Yes; good ship the Chelsea, and such a sailer! A regular Baltimore clipper; easy times aboard that ship. You've trade-winds most of the way to Cape Horn: trade-winds, you know, are steady ; as fixed, sir, as the needle to the pole, as the poet has it. And then there’s the Pacific! Grand sea that; all about Juan Fernandez, Magellan, and the Southern Cross it’s as calm and smiling as a mill-dam—so smooth that the illimitable sea seems a boundless oil-tank ; where you see reflected in it the belt of Orion and the Pleiades. The thought almost tempts me to run out on a voyage, just to see that whaleman’s heaven.

“Do you know that you get fresh beef at sea? Yes, sir, you do. Porpoises are to be had for the catching. Porpoise has muscle in it; you’d stiffen up on porpoise. And albatross too, big as geese; a little oily, but you'll get used to that.. It makes a man water-proof to eat albatross.”

The good man never dreamed that this moment was the fulfillment of the dreams of my short life. When I was a little boy, [had rigged and sailed my toy boats; and when a few years older, I had devoured Cook and Delano, and was happy in the library of Mavor, looking forward to the time when I too should visit the strange seas and scenes I had pictured in imagination. I took joy in the major’s persuasions, as I knew that he would accept me, and allow me to go in his ship. Let me say it was no freak of a child, no sudden whim, which led me to this point. Twice I had been disappointed in going to sea. Once I had shipped in the Globe, East Indiaman, when a severe accident kept me confined for weeks after she had been under way. On a bed of sickness my young heart followed that gallant ship on her course, and I found consolation only in the promise of my fatherly brother, that when well another berth should be found me.

Then I shipped on board the saucy little free-trader, Star, bound for the coast of British India. She was armed, and carried a very heavy crew. My kit was purchased and taken on board, and one drizzly dark morning I went on board in my gay shirt and spotless ducks, When examined by the surgeon, he pounced on my wrist, left crooked from fracture in the late accident. It was still tender: he gave it an awful wrench; I flinched. “ You won’t do,” was his awful verdict. In vain I told him that it was getting well very fast, and would soon be as sound as the other. He saw my heart was in going, and, being a kindly man, he said, “I can’t pass you as sound; but go on shore now, and thank God that a weak wrist stands between you and this voyage.” I did not know what he meant, but I went home to the quiet country almost heart-broken; and had no peace of mind until a letter from my friend, Mr. Lorenzo Draper, of New York, brought the glad tidings that he had secured a place for me on the Chelsea. And in a few days, with great joy in my heart (for which God forgive me), I kissed the tearful faces which bade me farewell for the long and, to them, fearful voyage which lay before.me. Little did the good major knew how little I needed the kindly encouragement he was extending; and lest I might again be disappointed, I made haste to append my name to the articles.

“ Ah! you’ve signed. That’s a good Bill; there’s a captain’s berth ahead, if you earn it. Now run down to Mr. Strong in the basement; he’ll finish your outfit in a jiffy. Take good advice: he is as sharp as he’s Strong; make him take off fifteen per cent. for cash: he will get'rich faster than you orI at that. Geta good outfit; spend your money for clothes, and not for tobacco, so that you may keep clear of the slop-chest. You have a week before you sail: look about you, and make the most of New London; for a three years’ voyage is no trifle, and you won’t see a better place the other side of the land. Good-morning.”

I did not again speak to the major for forty-five months.

Eight days afterward, I was standing, a cold, wet creature in red flannel and duck, looking back at a low bank of cloud-like land, as Montauk Point was fast sinking from sight.

‘*So Juan stood, bewildered, on the deck: -. The wind sung, cordage strained, and sailors swore. And the ship creaked, the town became a speck, From which away so fair and fast they flew.”

It seemed a wide: Rubicon I was crossing. Heart and landscape sunk together. I was now in fitter mood to bid a proper good-bye to those I had so lightly left, so lightly thought of—bah! what a miserable substitute is the rough flannel cuff for a linen handkerchief: it leaves the eyes so red that the jolly brutes about me, in sympathetic tone, inquire if my “head is running on shilling calico already.” The first night at sea is ever memorable, especially when a stiff north-west gale whistles a double-quick over the, starboard quarter. Such was our welcome; but running free, we made, good progress on a course. By some mysterious election I found myself in the starboard watch, Mr. 8 ‘ the second mate, heading it. I very soon found a prejudice against my superior, and a serious doubt arose as to the right of his claim to be a gentleman. The matter came out in this wise: in the course of his duty, I suppose, it became necessary to order a reef in the foretop-sail. The yard was lowered away; the reef-tackles hauled out, with much unnecessary “ Yo, heave oh’ing,” and the old salts flocked up the weather shrouds. I was deeply interested in their movements, never suspecting that a green hand would be required to go aloft the first night out, and in such rough weather; so I studied the endless tangle of braces, halyards, reef-tackles, clew-garnets, falls, and purchases by which I was surrounded. I wondered at the strange music of the storm-harp, the infernal confusion of creaking yards, the flapping of the sails away overhead: all this was food for the mind of the lad fresh from the little saw-mill quietly nestled in the shelter of the Gulf Valley. But presently, as I held some secure rope, admiring the agility with which the sailors squirmed out of sight into the whistling, howling darkness overhead, I saw the mad second mate coming for me with a rope’s end in his hand, and with some ugly expletives, in sea lingo, between his teeth. I took in the whole situation in a moment, as § again yelled to me, “ Lay aloft, and reef top-sails, you infernal lubber !”

The turmoil and confusion of the gale had subsided before this new storm came, and unhappy I found it comparatively easy to creep up the ratlines. My pride then led me to avoid the “lubber’s hole” and to mount the terrible futtock-shrouds. Here, in some way, I found myself close in to the bunt on the weather foretop-sail yard. The roll, pitch, and sway of that yard, and the gyrations of the foot-rope supporting me; the darkness, wet, and howl, the hoarse orders and naughty oaths of the men, banished the little sense which the premonitions of sea-sickness had left me* I wonder if any sailor ever forgot his first reef at night. I don’t remember to have knotted a point. In sheer desperation I hugged the shivering spar, repeating the beautiful prayer, -“ Here I lay me down,” ete.

I was very loath to let go, and even allow the impatient sailors to lay in from the yard-arm. ‘Goodness gracious !” thought I; “can I ever go clear out on that yard in such a night?” By some means all hands got safely on deck, all was bowsed taut, and we stood on our course again. For the remainder of this miserable night we were hauling and letting go, belaying, making fast, coiling, reefing, and furling, and doing many things which I never so much as heard of in the whole twenty-seven volumes of Mavor’s voyages. The pitch of our little uneasy bark, the spraying seas which overleaped our low bulwarks, and the growling oaths of moist humanity grew worse and louder, until I thought we were in for a terrible gale, and would have so described it, had I not overheard an old salt remark that it “blowed a stiffish breeze.” Then I took courage and thanked God, though I should have preferred, with Paul, “to land at the Three Taverns” to do it. Such was the opening of the young landsman’s journal of a voyage round Cape Horn in a three years’ cruise for sperm-whales, Captain B commanding. Tn passing, let me state that, as the names of our officers are not material, I omit them for reasons which will appear hereafter.