Gi THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 



whale, between the neck and fins, a circle denominated 

 the Kent, around which all proceedings are to be con- 

 ducted : to it is fastened a machinery, composed of 

 blocks and ropes, called the Kent -jmr chase ; by which, 

 with the aid of a windlass or capstan, the whale can be 

 turned on all sides, and in any required direction. The 

 harpooners then, directed by the specksioneer, com- 

 mence with spades and powerful knives (these last are 

 frequently made from old sword and cutlass blades) to 

 make long parallel cuts from end to end, which are di- 

 vided into cross pieces of about half a ton : these are 

 hoisted upon deck by tackle attached to the blubber- 

 guy;* where others again reduce them into still smaller 

 pieces. Finally, these are thrown down the main hatch- 

 way, into the flens-gut, where, being conveniently stowed 

 away by the kings, they remain until time can be spared 

 for the whole (in a day or two after) to be again thrown 

 upon deck, when it is again subdivided into pieces of 

 about three inches wide, and somewhat about six long, 

 and with an instrument, called a pricker, it is packed 

 carefully through the bung-hole into the casks. 



As soon as the cutting officers have cleared the whale's 

 surface of the carcass of the blubber that is above the 

 surface of the water, which does not exceed a fourth or 

 fifth part of the animal, the Kent-machinery is applied, 

 and turns the body round, until another part, yet un- 

 touched, is presented : this being also cleared, the whole 

 mass is again turned, and so on, until the whole has been 

 exposed, and the blubber removed. The Kent itself is 

 then stripped, and the lower jaw-bones, with the baleen 

 or whalebone, being conveyed on board, there remains 

 only the kreng, nothing more than a huge shapeless 



* A large piece of cable-rope fastened to the main-mast and fore-mast. 



