DUTIES OF THE BOAT'S CREW. 65 



and killing him, when once fast. Of course the 

 boat-header takes the most responsible positions 

 in these maneuvers; and consequently he steers 

 the boat till the whale is harpooned which office 

 is performed by the boat-steerer. Immediately 

 thereafter the two change places, the boat-headei 

 taking charge of the bow, to give the whale the 

 death blow. 



It is a very unfrequent occurrence, to kill a 

 whale at the first blow, with the harpoon. Whales 

 are so easily "gallied" or frightened, that it is con- 

 sidered an object to get a harpoon solidly fastened 

 in almost any place, the lance being always count- 

 ed on to deal out death to him. 



I may add here that I had been chosen bow- 

 oarsman for the chief mate's boat, an honor where- 

 at I was not a little elated, the more particularly as 

 [ had never before made a whaling cruise, and wae 

 therefore entirely inexperienced. 



Well, we lowered the boats. All was of course, 

 bustle and confusion. Many of the crew had never 

 in their lives been in a boat ; and those who had, evi- 

 dently viewed the long, narrow, shallow, and slen- 

 der boats used for whaling, as exceedingly suspi 

 cious contrivances, very little to be depended upon 



It being a calm day, the crews were directed to 

 'follow the boat down" that is to say, to slide 

 down by the side of the vessel, abreast of tneir 

 respective boats, in readiness to jump in as soon 

 &s the boats touched the water. In endeavoring 

 U, jump into his boat the ship just at thatmo- 

 5 



