28 WHALING 



whale himself to be wounded, but with incredible swiftness he 

 goes towards the bottom of the sea; so that the line smoaks, 

 being rubbed against the sides of the chalop, and would cer- 

 tainly take fire if the men did not continually pour water upon 

 it. There is also one whose business it is to take care that the 

 line be not entangled; for if that should happen, they have 

 nothing else to do but to cut the line, for else it would overset 

 the chalop. If they find one of the lines fall short, those of the 

 next chalop furnish them with theirs, which they fasten to it: 

 But all this would stand them in little stead, if the nature of 

 this fish were such as to be able to abide long under water; 

 whereas after he has run some hundred fathoms deep, he is 

 forced to come up again to take breath, at what time he sends 

 forth such a terrible sound through his pipes, that it may be 

 heard at half a league distance, tho' some make a much greater 

 noise than others. As soon as the fish appears upon the surface 

 of the water, the chalops pursue him, being directed by the 

 line, which shows them the way. The harpuneer who comes 

 first nearest to him, throws another harpun into his body, which 

 makes him once more take towards the bottom; but after he 

 comes up again the second time, they don't make any further 

 use of the karpuns, but of certain small pikes, not unlike a lance, 

 of which there are two sorts, throwing lances and pushing 

 lances. The throwing lances resemble an arrow, and are used 

 much in the same manner, but have no hooks at the end; for 

 they are thrown into the body of the whale, and drawn out 

 again, the intention of which is to tire the fish by so many 

 wounds till they dare venture at him with the pushing lances; 

 for whilst he is in his full strength no-body dares to come near 

 him, for whatever he hits with his tail and fins he batters in 

 pieces, as has been seen sometimes in some chalops, which have 

 been torn in flitters, and the men thrown up to a great height 

 into the air. When they find him almost tired, and his strength 

 considerably abated, they draw nearer to him, and make use of 

 the other lances, which resemble our pikes; with those they 

 wound him, but especially near the fins, where this creature is 

 most sensible; and this they hold so long till they have hit his 



