424 



THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



INFLATING THK CARCASS OF A HUMPBACK WHALE TO KEEP IT AFLOAT 



A hollow steel tube is thrust into the whale's side and the animal is slowly filled with air 

 by a steam pump. Photo by courtesy of World's Work 



he had done so, her joy could hardly be 

 contained, and the tip of her little nose 

 was almost red from constant rubbing 

 on the tatami (floor matting) in her 

 bows of thanks and farewell. 



Even though it was the very middle of 

 the night when a ship's whistle sounded, 

 long before the whale had been dropped 

 at the wharf paper lanterns, flashing like 

 fireflies, would begin to shine and dis- 

 appear among the thatched-roofed cot- 

 tages and a crowd of villagers gather at 



the end of the wharf. Half-naked men, 

 child-faced geishas, and little youngsters 

 carrying sleeping babies as large as them- 

 selves strapped to their backs, formed 

 a curious, picturesque, ever - changing 

 group. 



Fires of coal- fat in iron racks along 

 the wharf threw a brilliant yellow light 

 far out over the bay filled with whale 

 ships, heavy, square-sterned fishing boats, 

 and sampans. The work of cutting in 

 would go on as merrily as in the day- 



