CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 



Story of Ohther and King Alfred. First Whaling in America. Work 

 proposed in this History. My Owner. The young Candidate. Papers 

 signed, and we sail. The first Reef. Going Aloft. The Chelsea. The 

 Crew. The Outfit. Food Page 13 



CHAPTER II. 



Uneventful Passage. Captain's Inaugural. Mast-head and Place in Boat. 

 Discipline in Boats, and first Whale raised. Awkwardness of Crew, 

 and Whale lost. Music and Song a Necessity. Hinton, the Nightin- 

 gale. The Yarn as Mental Food. Forecastle Philosophy. Burrows's 

 Theory of the Gulf Stream. Whales pass under the Isthmus of Da- 

 rien. Ben Coffin. His Idea of Luxury 23 



CHAPTER III. 



Ben's first Whale. Struck on a Breach. Cedar cracking, and Ben. goes 

 up. As he rises from deep Water he meets Captain Davis coming 

 down. He takes a Departure, and strikes out for New London. Chip- 

 man confirms the Yarn. Albatross, and one sent homeward as Mes- 

 senger. The Pilot-fish, and its long Passages. Work of the Watches, 

 and learning the Rigging. Washing, Mending, and other Accomplish- 

 ments of the Sailor. Lessons taught on the Forehatch of the Chelsea. 

 My Crony Posey. His Love Story. Why the Nobility of Nantucket 

 go Whaling. Posey 's Ambition. The Secret of Nantucket's first Suc- 

 cess. Successful whaling Co-operation. Obed Macy's Description of 

 Whaling 34 



CHAPTER IV. 



A brave, righteous Man first Settler of Nantucket. Early English and 

 Dutch History of Whaling. Bounties and Immunities granted by Brit- 

 ain. Captain Wilkes's Picture of American Whaling. Preparation to 

 weather the Cape. Able Seamanship of our Whale Captains. Con- 

 stant Vigilance of Captain B , and slight Toss of Whalemen. 



Where the Whaleman shows to best advantage. Run to 62 S. lati- 

 tude, and meet a favoring Gale. The "Lay" and Fibre of a Cape 

 Yarn : Hinton's last Passage around. The great icy Barrier, and Home 

 of Mother Carey. A Gale of Wind in the Ice 51 



39532S 



