SOUTH SEA FISHERY. 173 



was broken off by the force of the blow and floated 

 to the surface. The whale was then observed to 

 rise a short distance from the ship, and to come 

 with apparently great fury towards it, striking one 

 of the bows with its head with amazing force, and 

 so completely staved it in. The ship of course im- 

 mediately filled, and fell over on her side ; in which 

 dreadful position the poor fellows in the boats saw 

 their only home, arid many hundred miles distant 

 from the nearest land ! On returning to the wreck,* 

 they found the few who had been left on board, 

 hastily congregating in the remaining boat, in which 

 they had scarcely taken refuge when the vessel cap- 

 sized. With much difficulty they obtained a scanty 

 supply of provisions from the wreck, their only sup- 

 port for the long and dreary passage before them to 

 the coast of Peru, whither they endeavoured to 

 make their way. Three only of the whole crew 

 survived; the remainder having perished under 

 unheard of sufferings and privations, over which we 

 willingly draw a veil. These three were found in 

 a state of stupefaction, allowing their boat to drift 

 along where the winds and waves listed. One of 

 the survivors was the master : by kind and careful 

 attention they were eventually rescued from the 

 jaws of death. 



The flensing or " cutting in" process is somewhat 

 peculiar. On being attached to the side of the ves- 

 sel, a frame work is thrown over the fish, and a strap 

 of blubber is cut in a spiral direction, which being 

 raised by certain purchases, turns the fish round a* 



