58 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 



three to four hours. During the time I was in Green- 

 land, we caught five whales, and I shall here insert a few 

 extracts respecting them from my journal. 



" Latitude by Observation, 

 80° 31' N. 



"1824. Monday, May 10. Wind, E. N. E.— The 

 first and middle part, moderate breezes and clear wea- 

 ther ; the ship dodging amongst great quantities of small 

 loose ice, numbers of straggling whales to be seen ; two 

 boats constantly on the watch. About six p. m. Mr. 

 John Larnders (chief mate) struck our first whale; at 

 seven p. m. she was killed ; and at ten towed alongside: 

 at eleven the crew began flensing her, which was finished 

 at four a. m. of the 11th. The jaw-bones were taken 

 in, and the baleen (whalebone) measured six feet seven 

 inches long." 



" No Observation taken. 



"Thursday, May 13. Wind, N.N.W. — Fresh 

 breezes, at times snow; four whales seen from the mast- 

 head, all hands called up ; lowered away four boats, 

 when shortly afterwards William Ford (second mate) 

 struck a second whale, at one a. m., which, after running 

 out seven lines (about 900 fathoms, or 5,400 feet), the 

 harpoon drew out, and we lost her. 



"At nine a. m. all hands again called; and at ten 

 minutes to one p. m. John James, the loose harpooner, 

 struck a third whale ; at a quarter past two p. m. she 

 was killed, and towed alongside at three : the flensing 

 began at five o'clock, and was finished by seven. 



" At ten p. m., the wind being N.N.E., William Ford 

 struck a fourth whale ; she was killed at eleven, and 

 towed alongside at twelve (midnight), when the flensing 

 immediately began." 



" No Observation taken. 



" Friday, May 14. Wind, N. N.E.— At two o'clock 



