Sl'ITZRKKOEN AND GREENLAND. 127 



towards the end, so they cut this great kenter-piece larger 

 and wider than all the rest. This piece, when it is cut round 

 about from the whale, reaches from the water to the cradle 

 (that is, tlie round circle that goeth round about the middle 

 of the mast, and is made in the shape of a basket), from 

 whence you may guess at the bigness of a whale. A strong 

 and thick rope is fix'd to this kenter -piece , and the other end 

 is fixed underneath the cradle, whereby the whale is as it 

 was borne up out of the water that they may come at it, and 

 by reason of the great weight of the whale the ship leans 

 towards that side. One may judge how tough the fat is, 

 for in this piece an hole is made through which the rope is 

 fastened, yet not deep into the fat, wherewith they turn the 

 fish at pleasure. Then, as is before said, they cut another 

 piece hard by this, that is also hailed up to the ship ; and 

 then in the ship they cut it into less pieces, about a foot 

 square. These two men have in their hands, as well as those 

 that stand on the whale, long knives, wherewith they cut 

 these square pieces. These knives, with their hafts, are about 

 the length of a man ; and the more the fat of the whale is 

 loosened, — just as the hide is flea'd from an ox, the higher 

 must they pull up the fat with their pulleys, that they may 

 cut it the easier. 



And when they have drawn up this fat, the men take it into 

 them into the ship, and loosen the rope that it was fastened 

 unto. The rope is fastened with a ring, whereinto they put 

 a great iron hook, which is fastened to a strong tackle, and 

 also sometimes, before in the ship, are fix'd two other tackle, 

 wherewith all the fat is drawn up into the ship. In the ship 

 stand two men, with hooks as long as a man, wherewith they 

 hold the great piece of fat, which the two men cut into square 

 pieces with their long knives. By them stands another that 

 has a short hook with a ring in his hands, which he thrusts 

 into the pieces of fat that are cut square, and puts it on the 

 bench or dressing-board, where it is cut by others into less 



