PREFACE. THIS book is simply what its title indicates, the mind of the author pretending to be only the camera obscura through which the rays from Nature and Nature's living scenes have passed uncolored to the canvass. It may be that some who were with the writer, and others too, experienced and old in whaling life, may like to glance through this gallery of Daguerreotypes, and by their help recall to mind scenes of which, if they can not say, like many in this vocation, Quæque ipse miserrima vidi, yet with equal truth, Quorum pars magna fui. To them, the author is sure it will be pleasurable to review life-passages that were fraught with no ordinary interest in passing, and to compare the glimpses and sun-paintings found here with their more subtle images in the brain, which memory loves to be retracing in the downhill of life. M84712 And if it be true, what the philosophic Latin poet Lucretius touches so beautifully, Suave mari magno, turbantibus æquora ventis, E terra, magnum alterius spectare laborem It is a view of delight to stand or walk upon the shore side, and to see a ship tossed upon the sea; or to be in a fortified tower, and to see two battles join upon a plain; or it is sweet, from a post of safety, to review the labors of other men beyond the seas-if there be truth in this, the writer may hope his book will not be barren of interest to many, who, having never experienced the reality of the life which is here delineated, may now behold it safely from afar off. Hoping also that there are moral hints and lessons herewith interwoven, that will catch the eye and touch the heart of the casual reader, like sober threads of green in tapestry of gold, this book is honestly commended to the purchase and perusal of all classes, by the AUTHOR. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Origin and Localities of the Whale Fishery-Biscayan and Dutch Whalemen-New England Bay Whaling - First Sperm Whale in the Deep Sea-Statistics of History, Tropic Island of Rimatara-Letter from the Natives-Land- ing through the Surf-Characteristics of the People-King Temaeva-Walk into the Interior-Island Metropolis- Foot-prints of Christianity—Native Hospitality-Regretful Good-by--Contrast between a People with the Book and without-A Cut-off and a Recovery-A Shipwreck and a Physiology of the Right Whale-Points of Difference in the Sperm-Mammoth Dimensions - Clinical Notes - Provi- dential Peculiarities of Structure-Right-whale Feed- Polar Pasture-ground and Greenland Medusa-Disastrous THE WHALE'S PHYSIOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY. Minute Description from Nature of the Balæna Mysticetus- Manner of the Whale in Feeding-Blubber Boiling-Oily Plight of the Ship and Crew-Sea Soap and Sand Scrub- bing-Raising more Whales-Chase, Fight, and Capture- DIFFERENT CRUISING GROUNDS AND NORTHWEST WHALING. A Whaleman's Autobiography in Rhyme-Different Kinds of - .95 THE WHALE'S BIOGRAPHY AND INCIDENTS IN THE CAPTURE. Amicable Temper of the Right Whale-Wisdom of the Crea- tor-Whale's maternal Affection and Boldness in Defense of its Young-A Sperm Whale feeding-A Sperm Whale dying A Sperm Whale Sick and wanting Physic-Am- bergris-Its Origin and Uses-Deformities and Wars of Bull Whales-Probable Age of the Dam and Size of the Whale Calf-The Whale's Enemies-Terrific Combats with Killers, Thrashers, Sword Fish, and Sea Serpent-Doubt- ATLANTIC OCEAN MAMMOTHS AND MONSTERS. A Day and Night off Cape Horn-Capture of a Calf and Escape of a Cow-Harpooning of a Sun-fish-Metamorphosis into a Chowder-Sinking one Thousand Dollars in a Right EPISODES IN THE FORTUNES OF WHALEMEN. Stirring Adventure amid a Gam of Whales-Captain Over- board with a tangled Tow-line-Sensations while being drawn down with the Sounding Whale-Providential Res- cue-Boat-race with a Team of Whales-A Monster in his Flurry pitching downward and Dying without Rising-One Whale Falling bodily upon a Boat fast to another-Limbs |
