CETACEANS. 211 



Previous to being boiled, or " tryed-out/ 5 . the blub- 

 ber is cleared from adhering flesh, and cut with spades 

 into slips, or fe horse -pieces/ 5 which, (after they have 

 been " minced/ 5 or scored by a broad and thin knife, 

 upon an elevated block of wood, termed the " horse/') 

 are consigned to the boilers of the try-works. The 

 "head 55 is first boiled, and its produce kept as distinct 

 as possible from the ee body /' since the one is con- 

 sidered as Spermaceti, or " head-matter,' 5 and the other 

 as Sperm-oil. 



It must be regarded as a curious circumstance, and 

 as one highly essential to the economy of these ships, 

 that the process of boiling the oil supplies also the fuel 

 required for that purpose ; the " scraps/* or refuse 

 from which the oil has been extracted, burning, when 

 placed in the furnace, with a fierce and clear flame 

 and intense heat, and being sufficient in quantity to 

 render any other fuel unnecessary; the scraps re- 

 maining from one affair of oil being reserved to com- 

 mence a second. 



In a dark night, the process of " trying out " in the 

 open ocean presents a spectacle partaking much of the 

 grand and terrific. The dense volumes of smoke that 

 roll before the wind and over the side of the vessel, as 

 she pursues her course through the water the roaring 

 of the flames, bursting in lofty columns from the works, 

 and illuminating the ship and surrounding expanse of 

 sea and the uncouth garb and implements of the 

 crew, assembled around the fires produce a peculiarly 

 imposing effect ; though one that is not altogether to 

 be reconciled with the ordinary character of marine 

 scenery.* 



* There is a story current amongst whalers, that on one occasion a 

 South-Seaman was thus employed in sight of a British ship-of-war, 



p 2 



