OLD WHALING DAYS. 5 



great Leviathan. In two hours it was dead, and then came 

 the trouble to get alongside to flense. This took some time 

 to prepare, as we had not expected to see a fish so soon. 

 When all was ready, the crew had half an hour for their 

 meals, after which we proceeded to the work of flensing. 

 The captain rigged me in a blue flannel shirt, tied round 

 the waist with a piece of spun yarn, and also gave me a pair 

 of his sea boots to put on. I was ordered to go into the 

 Malemauk boat. This is the name of two boats laid along- 

 side the whale, and used for the harpooners to place their 

 weapons in during the process of flensing. The Captain 

 jocosely observed to me, " Now, you must always be a 

 malemauk boy in smooth water, as I want to make you a 

 clever harpooner." Notwithstanding, it was too soon to 

 place me there on account of my strength. I found out 

 the benefit of it, however, and, before the voyage was over, 

 I knew all the ways and cuts of flensing a fish. Some may 

 go to sea a life time, and remain utterly ignorant of this 

 very particular operation. 



Our first whale was soon followed by another, and we 

 went further north, towards the island of Disco. At this 

 period of the year the sun does not set in these latitudes, 

 and it is light the night through. We arrived safely at the 

 entrance of the harbour of Goodhavn, the principal 

 settlement of the district. The natives came on board with 

 Governor Major Olricks' compliments to the captain. For 

 the Governor we carried despatches from the Danish 

 Government, and also luxuries from the Danish Consul at 

 Hull, and other friends. 



The natives upon the East Coast of Davis's Straits, from 

 Cape Farewell to Upernavik, are civilised, and under the 

 Danish Government. They bring for barter small canoes, 

 tobacco pouches, and other articles, for which the crews give 

 clothes, soap, and such things as they can spare in 

 exchange. I took advantage of the opportunity, and got a 



