THE GIANTS OF LABRADOR. 145 



the Arctic circle. The crew consisted of thirty- 

 two men, each appointed to his separate duties, 

 and tivo captains, one of whom superintended the 

 sailing of the vessel to the place of fishing, and the 

 other taking charge of the catching and preparing 

 the whales. The sailor who conducted me and 

 showed me every detail (thinking it necessary even 

 to explore the stinking hold of the ship), explained 

 to me that there was not the slightest rivalry 

 between the two chiefs of the expedition, but they 

 were " two good twins,^' — a phrase which he con- 

 stantly repeated. After these, were four officers, 

 including mates and surgeon, a first-rate carpenter, 

 two coopers, a blacksmith, two cooks (one for the 

 officers and the other for the crew), and twenty-two 

 sailors. On the deck of the vessel I found slung 

 from iron stanchions six whale-boats, and a seventh 

 behind the forecastle. The cabins of the captains 

 and officers were furnished in a style of the most 

 primitive simplicity, when compared with the fitting- 

 np of other ships which I had visited in port. 



"Aboard a whaler," said my guide, ''luxuries are 

 useless. You must get accustomed to be soaked in 

 oil. Easy-chairs are all very well for the gents 

 who travel in steamers, or for amateur merchant- 

 men/' 



From this I gathered that the whaling sailor has 

 no great admiration for other kinds of sailors. 



"As soon as ever we're at sea," he continued 



VOL, II. L 



