THE AMERICAN WHALE-FISHERY. 
207 
in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, or upon the coast of the Spanish Main. 
Soon after, they extended their voyages to the South Atlantic, around the Falkland 
Islands, and to the coast of Patagonia, where Fur Seal skins and Sea Elephant oil 
were sometimes obtained. In such instances these whaling and sealing expeditions 
were called "mixed voyages." "Between the years 1770 and 1775," according to 
Bix diminutive beings, should dare to pursue and 
to attack, in its native element, the largest and 
strongest fish that Nature has created. Yet by 
the exertion of an admirable dexterity, improved 
by a long practice, in which these people are 
become superior to any other whalemen; by 
knowing the temper of the whale after her first 
movement, and by many other useful observa- 
tions, they seldom fail to harpoon it, and to 
bring the huge leviathan on the shores. Thus 
they went on, until the profits they made ena- 
bled them to purchase larger vessels, and to pur- 
sue them farther, when the whales quitted their 
coasts. * * By degrees they went a -whaling 
to Newfoundland, to the Gutyh of St. Lau- 
rence, to the Straits of Belleisle, the coast of 
Labrador, Davis's Straits, even to Cape Desola- 
tion, in 70° of latitude ; where the Danes carry 
on some fisheries, in spite of the perpetual sever- 
ities of that inhospitable climate. * * Would 
you believe that they have already gone to the 
Falkland Islands, and that I have heard several 
of them talk of going to the South Sea! Their 
confidence is so great, and their knowledge of 
this branch of business so superior to that of 
any other people, that they have acquired a 
monopoly of this commodity. 
"Such were their feeble beginnings, such the 
infancy and progress of their maritime schemes ; 
such is now the degree of boldness and activity 
to which they are arrived in their manhood. 
After their examples several companies have 
been formed in many of our capitals, where 
every necessary article of provisions, implements, 
and timber, are to be found. But the industry 
exerted by the people of Nantucket hath hither- 
to enabled them to rival all their competitors ; 
consequently this is the greatest mart for oil, 
whalebone, and spermaceti on the continent. 
"The vessels most proper for whale -fishing 
are brigs of about one hundred and fifty tons 
burden, particularly when they are intended for 
distant latitudes ; they always man them with 
thirteen hands, in order that they may row two 
whale-boats; the crews of which must necessa- 
rily consist of six, four at the oars, one stand- 
ing on the bows with the harpoon, and the 
other at the helm. It is also necessary that 
there should be two of these boats, that if one 
should be destroyed in attacking the whale, the 
other, which is never engaged at the same time, 
may be ready to save the hands. Five of the 
thirteen are always Indians ; the last of the 
complement remains on board to steer the ves- 
sel during the action. 
"As soon as they arrive in those latitudes 
where they expect to meet with whales, a man 
is sent up to the mast-head; if he sees one, 
he immediately cries out, 'Awaite pawana' (here 
is a whale ) ; they all remain still and silent 
until he repeats 'Pawana' (a whale), when in 
less than six minutes the two boats are launched, 
filled with every implement necessary for the 
attack. They row toward the whale with aston- 
ishing velocity ; and as the Indians early became 
their fellow -laborers in this new warfare, you 
can easily conceive how the Nattick expressions 
became familiar on board the whale-boats. For- 
merly it often happened that whale -vessels were 
manned with none but Indians and the master ; 
recollect also that the Nantucket people under- 
stand the Nattick, and that there are always 
five of these people on board. 
"There are various ways of approaching the 
