A WHALESHIP'S HOLD. 45 



and a large assortment of spare oars, any vacant 

 space left being filled with oil casks ; the blubber 

 room, a large space, just below the main hatchway, 

 into which the blanket pieces, just taken from the 

 >vhale, are lowered, there to be cut up by the 

 Dlubber-room men, into horse pieces; and lastly, 

 the steerage where the boatsteerers and cooper 

 have their place of abode. 



The hold is filled with oil casks, most of the 

 lower tier of which are at the commencement of 

 the cruise filled with water, while in the upper 

 tier are contained the bread, beef and provisions, 

 as well as sails, dry goods for trade with the na- 

 tives, and all ships stores whatever, everything 

 being stowed away in casks to economise space, 

 and get on board as many of the latter as possible. A 

 forty gallon cask of Epsom salts medicine for the 

 sailors figured conspicuously among the stores. 



It was on a fine morning in June, that we sailed. 

 The crew had been all gathered on board the pre- 

 ceding afternoon, and the vessel hauled into the 

 lower bay, ready for a fair start ; and now having 

 bidden good-by to all friends and acquaintances, 

 we weighed anchor and set sail, taking a last, and 

 I must confess, with me rather sorrowful look at 

 the beauteous verdant shores of America, which 

 <vt, were now leaving for an absence of not lesg 

 loan three, and perhaps over four years. I was 

 embarking on a voyage with the nature and du- 

 ties of which I was but slightly acquainted, and 

 although bound for a part of f he world which I had 



