VOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEN. 97 



was struck, sunk under the number of its wounds ; 

 while its faithful associate, disdaining to survive the 

 loss, stretched itself upon the dead fish, and shared 

 its fate. 



The ancients were not unacquainted with the 

 Balcena mysticetus, though they do not seem to 

 have had any knowledge of its uses. Their ac- 

 quaintance with the spermaceti whale, found in the 

 Indian ocean, was somewhat more accurate. It 

 is interesting to observe, in the account of Near- 

 chus's Voyage, as given by Arrian,* the terror of 

 the sailors when they first perceived the blowing 

 of these animals. As soon as this ancient naviga- 

 tor had successfully conducted his fleet past a 

 single whale, he received an applause equal to what 

 he could have expected had he vanquished an ene- 

 my's fleet. 



Whenever a whale is seen from the ship, one 

 or more boats are sent in pursuit ; and if they 

 get close to it, the harpooner strikes it with his 

 harpoon ; but should the boat not get near 

 enough for this purpose, he heaves the harpoon 

 at the whale with great skill. As soon as the 

 animal finds itself wounded, it descends, drago-ino- 

 the line fastened to the harpoon after it with 

 such velocity, that one of the crew is constantly 



* Hist. Ind. § 29 and 30. 



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