78 NIXROD OF THE SEA; OJt, 



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 The fall leads from the upper or fixed block to the windlass, 



around the smooth, hollowed end of which the necessary 

 number of turns are taken all the men, save the cook and 

 the men at mast-head and wheel, standing by to lend a hand. 

 The whale is floating on its side on the starboard beam of 

 the ship, and is hauled forward until the eye comes opposite 

 the gangway. The rail and side-planks above the deck hav- 

 ing been removed, this brings the first point of attack di- 

 rectly under the tackles. Two narrow stages are slung 

 over the side, on which, secured by waist, belt, and monkey- 

 rope, the officers stand to cut, as may be needed, with sharp, 

 broad-edged spades mounted on poles sixteen or more feet 

 long. 



We begin by cutting a round hole in the tough forma- 

 tion termed "white horse," about the eye. Then, by a 

 semi-circular cut above, and to one side of the eye about 

 two feet in radius, the first cut is prolonged toward the 

 ship, so as to form a flap of about four feet in width. Now 

 one of the boat-steerers appears, rigged in an old woolen 

 suit, with woolen stockings a material that grips the 

 smooth skin of the whale and prevents the wearer from 

 slipping. He has a monkey-rope about his waist, and when 

 the tackle is overhauled until the hook is at the proper 

 height, he descends on to the whale, and inserts the hook 

 in the hole by the eye. This is drowning work when the 

 sea is rough enough to wash heavily over the partly sub- 

 merged whale ; it is arduous when the irregular roll of the 

 mast-head sways and jerks the ponderous block and hook ; 

 it is dangerous when the ro.ll of the ship and whale may 

 catch the man between them ; and, lastly, 'it is unpleasant 

 from the proximity of half a score of hungry sharks intent 

 on blubber, but which are liable to mistake a floating head, 

 leg, or arm for a part of the whale, and claim it as legit- 

 imate toll. Against these inconveniences the spades of 



