of North Carolina. 219 



why the V^liale, though the strongest and biggest of Fishes in 

 the Water, cannot make much use of his strength. The Guts 

 are of a flesh Colour, and the Dung within them yellow : Their 

 Food is chiefly Sea-Snails, Herrings, and other small Fish ; 

 when they see a Man or a Long Boat, they dive and run away ; 

 but if they are wounded, or in danger, they value a Man no 

 more than a Straw, and frequently beat the Long-Boat in 

 pieces, but great Ships are too many for them, for when they 

 strike against them with their Tails, they generally receive 

 more Damage than they give. They sometimes run away 

 with some thousand fathom of Eope-line (after they are 

 struck with the Harpoon or Sharp-Iron, that is fixed to a 

 Stick, and resembles a Dart) a gi-eat deal swifter than a Ship 

 can sail, or a Bird flie, by which means the Lines are some- 

 times set on fire, when there is not proper Care taken to pre- 

 vent them, by constantly throwing Water on them as they run 

 out. They shift their Quarters, as is supposed, according to 

 the Seasons. They have Ailments as well as other Beasts, and 

 are strangely afflicted with Lice; they will sometimes leap 

 out of the Water, as if they were in an Agony. Before a Tem- 

 pest they beat the Water about with their Tails like Dust. 

 They are observed to have the gi-eatest Strength when they 

 strike side-ways. If they escape, their Wounds are quickly 

 healed up, because of their Fat ; but the Wound always leaves 

 a white Scar behind it. 



These Monsters are very numerous on the Coasts of North- 

 Carolina, and the Bone and Oil would be a great Advantage 

 to the Inhabitants that live on the Sand-Banks along the 

 Ocean, if they were as dexterous and industrious in Fishing 

 for them as they are ^N'orthwards ; but as I observed before, 

 the People in these parts are not very much given to Industry, 

 but wait upon Providence to throw^ those dead Monsters on 



Ee 2 Shoar, 



