THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 253 
The oil is afterwards extracted from the blubber 
and junk by exposing them to the action of fire in 
large pots, the skinny portions which remain serv- 
ing for fuel: and the spermaceti is purified in the 
same manner. The products are then stowed away 
in barrels in the vessel’s hold. 
The following narrative, from the interesting work 
of Mr. Beale, gives us a vivid picture of this excit- 
ing pursuit: “At daybreak, one fine morning in 
August, as our first mate was going aloft to look 
out for Whales, he discovered no less than three 
ships within a mile of us; but they were situated 
in various directions. We soon discovered them to 
be whalers, who, like ourselves, were cruising after 
the Spermaceti Whale, and, therefore, their appear- 
ance only had the effect of redoubling our vigilance 
in the look-out, so that we might, if possible, be 
the first to obtain the best chance, if one of those 
creatures hove in sight. And it was not long be- 
fore a very large Whale made his appearance right 
in among the ships. The water was smooth at the 
time, for we had but a light air of wind stirring, 
so that our boats were instantly lowered without 
the loss of time of bringing the ship to. But, al- 
though we managed matters as quietly and secretly 
as possible, we found the moment our boats quitted 
the ship’s side, that all the others had been as vigi- 
lant as ourselves, and had also lowered their boats 
after the Whale. The whole of them immediately | 
began the chase, nine boats in all, being three from 
each ship. They all exerted themselves to the ut- 
most, and, as we expected, in vain; ‘for before any 
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