28 OLD WHALING DAYS. 



good four hours' sleep. Flensing followed, and the carcase 

 was to wed 'to shore at high water. It was dry at low water, 

 and made a great feast for the natives and their dogs. The 

 sldn of the whale is very good and nutritious. It has a 

 taste of mushroom after being cleaned and steeped in salt 

 and 'water for twenty-four hours. When boiled about 

 twenty minutes, and cut into small pieces, and eaten with 

 vinegar it is a good antiscorbutic. The natives eat it raw, but 

 it was not so palatable to us. Therefore we drew the line 

 at that. I have eaten it with a relish, and on my last voyage 

 to this country, when mate of the Diana, of Hull, my boat's 

 crew used to take about eight pounds every day during the 

 last two weeks. 



The following morning we sent four boats away, and the re- 

 mainder of the crew put the blubber in casks. This made our 

 fifth whale, from the whole of which we got about seventy- 

 five tons of oil, and four tons of whalebone. Stormy 

 weather came on, and it was freezing keenly. Notwith- 

 standing, we expected getting another whale before we left. 

 One evening a boat belonging to the Regalia, of Kirkcaldy, 

 struck or shot a fish. It was coming on dusk at the time, and 

 the boats were far out at sea. When darkness came on, 

 the wind increased, with blinding snow, which added to 

 the misery of the poor fellows in the lonely boats. Tar 

 barrels were burnt upon the island, but they were not much 

 use, on account of the obscuring snow, and it was a most 

 anxious time for those on board the Regalia. Next morning 

 was clearer and more moderate. We sent our boats away in 

 search of their's. They were met about five miles from the 

 harbour in a most deplorable condition. All were quite 

 worn out, wet to the skin, frost-bitten, and hungry. We 

 gave them provisions and some rum, and took part of 

 them in tow. From their statement it seems that when night 

 came on, they had only got two harpoons in the whale, and 

 the sea was increasing, but was very phosphorescent, so 



