274 
FROM EDINBURGH TO THE ANTARCTIC 
piece ; the men just walked in amongst them, tapped them 
on the back with the muzzle of their rifle until they lifted 
their heads and received the bullet. 
We have found it necessary to take the whale-lines out 
of the boats ; and now all the whaling-boats are working 
amongst the seals. They are constantly going off the 
ship and coming back gunwale deep with seal-skins and 
blubber. 
Tuesday, yd. — Seals lying all round ; the crew working 
like niggers ! Every skin means the fraction of a farthing 
into their pockets, therefore they sweat at their oars and 
slash at the skins, half blind with blood, with the blaze of 
white light, and fatigue. Many of the seals are diseased, 
they have festering sores under the flippers and other parts. 
The men's hands are constantly being cut, and some of 
these cuts fester, probably with the matter from the sores. 
But we aft have not suffered, though cut often enough ; 
the difference in our diets may account for this. The men 
call their sores * pusey ' fingers. 
This afternoon the doctor and I worked the steam winch 
