394 NIMBOD OP TSM SEA; OB, 



family, and so we have pillows galore, with prospects of 

 countless cea-pies. 



March 18. For two days the weather has been stormy, 

 with occasionally vivid lightning and distant thunder. Much 

 of the time we ran under close-reefed top-sails, and had all 

 we could stagger under. A sharp lookout is kept for the 

 high peaks of Hawaii ; and to-day the wind is lighter, and we 

 run under full top-sails. Heavy banks of clouds to the west 

 shut off the distance. This morning we saw a school of the ■ 

 small whales called " Killers," which some writers aifirm kill 

 both the sperm and right whales. I should suppose that 

 the sperm-whale is invulnerable to the attacks of this crea- 

 ture, and is abundantly provided for defense in its active 

 jaw, aside from its provision for deep sounding, which would 

 carry it far beyond the reach of its so-called enemy. But 

 the right whale may be exposed to its attacks. Right-whale 

 men assert that it has been observed to thrust its head into 

 the mouth of a dead whale towed by boats, and tear out 

 great pieces of the tongue; and they assure me that the 

 tongue of the living whale is the part vulnerable to the at- 

 tack of the killer. It is declared that when the right whale 

 is swimming with its great lips opened as in feeding, the 

 head of the enemy is inserted into the month and fastens 

 upon the tongue. One can imagine that if this fierce animal 

 once fastened its sharp teeth in the great oily tongue of the 

 right whale, the latter might be as powerless to shake off its 

 antagonist, as an ox with a bull-dog fastened to its throat. 

 In vain might it close the elastic bone of the jaw on the 

 smooth armor of its enemy ; in vain cut its formidable flukes 

 to strike its inaccessible assailant; and breeching would be 

 impossible, with tons of weight pendent from the mouth. 

 Moreovei-, the killer would be equally at home beneath the 

 surface ; and if sounding were possible, the assailed whale 

 could not thus shake off its antagonist. The contest is said 



