132 WHALING AND FISHING. 



A^e, her crew, were again in good odor with our 

 selves. 



It is a fortunate circumstance that sperm oil 

 will wash off easily, not leaving any stain upon 

 wood, and but little upon the rough clothing 

 whalemen wear. The smoke and cinders make 

 the chief dirt, penetrating as they do, every part 

 of the vessel, and bearing with them that peculiarly 

 sickening smell of burning meat, the remembrance 

 of which, even to this day, disgusts me. Happy 

 day it was for me, when I was once more permit- 

 ted to put on clean clothes, and could eat biscuit 

 without oil, and meat unaccompanied by the 

 of blubber 



