48 TEE CRUISE OF THE "CACHALOT.** 



of the main batch or "blubber-room." A short time 

 slifficed to strip off the whole of the body-blubber, and 

 when at last the tail was reached, the backbone was 

 cut through, the huge mass of flesh floating away 

 to feed the innumerable scavengers of the sea. No 

 sooner was the last of the blubber lowered into the hold 

 than the hatches were put on and the head hauled up 

 alongside. Both tackles were secured to it and all 

 hands took to the windlass levers. This was a small 

 cow whale of about thirty barrels, that is, yielding that 

 amount of oil, so it was just possible to lift the entire 

 head on board ; but as it weighed as much as three full- 

 grown elephants, it was indeed a heavy lift for even our 

 united forces, trying our tackle to the utmost. The 

 weather was very fine, and the ship rolled but little; 

 even then, the strain upon the mast was terrific, and 

 right glad was I when at last the immense cube of fat, 

 flesh, and bone was eased inboard and gently lowered 

 on deck. 



As soon as it was secured the work of dividing it 

 began. From the snout a triangular mass was cut, 

 which was more than half pure sj^ermaceti. This 

 substance was contained in spongy cells held together 

 by layers of dense white fibre, exceedingly tough and 

 elastic, and called by the whalers " white-horse." The 

 whole mass, or **junk" as it is called, was hauled 

 away to the ship's side and firmly lashed to the bulwarks 

 for the time being, so that it might not " take charge " 

 of the deck during the rest of the operations. 



The upper part of the head was now slit open 

 lengthwise, disclosing an oblong cistern or " case " full 

 of liquid spermaceti, clear as water. This was baled 

 out with buckets into a tank, concreting as it cooled 



