C 85 ) 



CHAPTER IX. 



OUR FIRST CALLING-PLAOE. 



Peritaps it may hastily be assumed, from the large space 

 already devoted to fishing operations of various kinds, 

 that the subject will not bear much more dealing with, 

 if my story is to avoid being monotonous. But I beg 

 to assure you, dear reader, that while of course I 

 have most to say in connection with the business of 

 the voyage, nothing is farther from my plan than 

 to neglect the very interesting portion of our cruise 

 which relates to visiting strange, out-of-the-way corners 

 of the world. If — which I earnestly deprecate — the 

 description hitherto given of sperm whale-fishing and 

 its adjuncts be found not so interesting as could be 

 wished, I cry you mercy. I have been induced to give 

 more space to it because it has been systematically 

 avoided in the works upon whale-fishing before 

 mentioned, which, as I have said, were nut intended 

 for popular reading. True, neither may my humble 

 tome become popular either ; but, if it does not, no one 

 will be so disappointed as the author. 



We had made but little progress during the week of 

 oil manufacture, very little attention being paid to the 

 Bails while that work was about ; but, as the south-east 



