U2 FROM EDINBURGH TO THE ANTARCTIC 
were three events of importance in this days sailing, 
breakfast, dinner, and tea. As we sail south the air 
becomes more invigorating, and these events become 
daily of greater importance. 
To-morrow we will be out of that interesting belt of 
sea marked Tropics on the map. This afternoon the 
wind went round from the S.E. to the N., so the men had 
of necessity to work, to the extent of squaring the yards 
and clewing up the mainsail, otherwise they have spent 
the day in peaceful repose. Alas, that I may not say 
innocent repose, 'for a great army of porpoises or small 
whales (pigmy sperm, perhaps) made up on us, and our 
minds, instead of being filled with angelic visions, were 
stuffed with material pictures of porpoise steak. Full 
forty steady church-goers (at home) lined the focsle 
head, and aided and abetted a bold harpooneer in his 
evil designs. 
At last, one of the whales cam<5 in reach, and down 
went the harpoon, and up went a shout from the ungodly, 
for the harpoon was clean through and out on the other 
side. Then we all hauled away at the line, and felt the 
weight of the fresh meat at the other end, and felt the 
harpoon draw, and saw the dead whale drift astern. Now 
on this occasion the language was profane. 
At the risk of being tedious I will here give a careful 
account of the way in which we put in a day at sea. By 
we, I mean the doctor and myself, and by day I only mean 
the hours of daylight, for of the night hours I can say 
little. But the men tell me that the doctor is often seen 
then in his pyjamas pursuing science. 
