22 Dirty Weather. 



a boat or boats to be sent after whales and to 

 remain away for eighteen or twenty hours, hence' 

 the necessity for obliging each man of the watch to 

 refresh himself before coming on deck. 



Thursday, May 8th. — An unpleasant, showery 

 day, accompanied by a heavy head swell. The 

 wind failing at noon, steam was raised and sail 

 taken in. We have already passed two of the 

 Dundee whalers, which we imagine to be the 

 " Camperdown " and "Narwhal." It is very pro- 

 bable that we are now the leading ship of the fleet, 

 notwithstanding five having sailed from Dundee 

 before us, as two, the " Intrepid " and " Kavens- 

 craig," have to call in at the Shetland Isles to com- 

 plete their crews. This is the first day that we 

 have been able to enjoy the services of our cook, 

 who is only just recovering from his last day on 

 shore. One of our crew had a slight attack of 

 delirium tremens this afternoon, otherwise they arc 

 all well, and confidently look forward to the pros- 

 pect of a quick and prosperous voyage. They are 

 busily employed fitting and preparing the different 

 tackles and purchases used for hoisting in the 

 blubber, and also in fitting Jacob's ladders (which 

 are small rope ladders with wooden rungs), eleven 

 of which are always kept over the side to enable 

 the men to jump quickly on board from the ice, or 

 when returning in the boats. 



Saturday, May 10th. — Blowing a fresh easterly 



