390 NIMROD OF TBE SEA; OR, 



stowed five hundred barrels, and he estimated the tongues at 

 twenty-three barrels each. He has found these whales less 

 supple and dangerous than either the right or sperm. They 

 are now only found along the edge of the ice. Alarmed by 

 the persistent hunt of the crowd of ships, they are returning 

 farther to the north, to find refuge in Symmes's Hole, or 

 Kane's open sea, neither of which have been penetrated by 

 our whalemen. 



I may state, for the enlightenment of the gastronomer, 

 that the thin edge of the right whale's lip is of a gelatinous 

 nature, and when placed in the copper settler or cooler, so as 

 to be surrounded by the boiling oil for about six hours, it 

 becomes of the consistence of a jelly, which, eaten with salt, 

 pepper, and vinegar, closely resembles pigs' feet. The tubu- 

 lar shells which are found on the nib of the nose are Slso 

 eaten, when boiled in the same way. No part of the sperm- 

 whale is eaten, however; but I suppose an excellent quality 

 of glue might be made from the ten tons of white horse 

 found in the head. 



About the middle of November, being over three years 

 from home, we dropped anchor in the land-locked harbor of 

 Talcahuana, to refit ship for the passage round Cape Horn, 

 and our long home voyage. Our poor ship presented a sorry 

 sight, as we stood up the harbor. Time and the elements 

 had done their work. The sails were patched and repatch- 

 ed ; the newer cloths inserted contrasting, in their whiteness, 

 with the older. Our rigging was frayed, and loose ends 

 were flying crazily in the air. The paint of the spars was 

 lost, while that on the sides was blistered and broken.. The 

 copper was much worn, and rolled up. Rough barnacles 

 and waving grass fouled the bottom, and clogged the ves- 

 sel's motion. Thus we presented a striking and painful con- 

 trast to the dandy clipper which left New London three years 

 ago. Sorry as was our exterior, it was cheerful, however, as 



