ACTIVITY OF THE SPERMACETI WHALE. 
433 
witness of this animated scene, and to whom I am indebted for the information, avers that 
there really is some semblance of these various meats, and that the “pork,” when salted and 
barrelled, might be readily taken for the flesh of the veritable hog. 
The same gentleman tells me that the leaping powers of the Cachalot are not in the least 
exaggerated, for that he has seen one of these animals spring to such a height out of the 
water, that the horizon could be seen under it, although the spectators were standing on the 
ieck of a man-of-war. The Cachalot was about three miles from the ship at the time when it 
made its spring. 
The Spermaceti Whale, when it is in the open sea, lives chiefly on the “squids,” or 
cuttle-fish, which swarm in the ocean, and when it approaches land, feeds on various fish. 
It seems, however, to dislike the propinquity of the shore, and is very seldom taken in 
“soundings.” It is a gregarious animal, being seldom seen alone, but in large herds, technic- 
ally called “schools,” and consisting of several hundred in number. The “schools” are 
generally divided into two bands, the one consisting of young males and the other of females. 
Each band of females is under the command of several large males, who exercise the strictest 
discipline over their harems, aud will not permit any intruder to join their society. From 
their office, these leaders are called the school-masters. 
At distant intervals a large, overgrown Cachalot is seen roaming the ocean, apparently 
unconnected with any school. These solitary animals are, however, the “school-masters,” 
which have laid down their authority for a short space of time, and are engaged in search of 
food. These animals generally fall easy victims to the harpooner, as they are very reckless 
in their conduct, and will permit a boat to approach them without much difficulty. Some- 
times when struck they lie still and supine as if they did not feel the keen edge of the har- 
poon, and so afford time to the whalers to use their deadly lances at once instead of dragging 
them for miles over the waves. 
Sometimes, however, a “large Whale” will become belligerent, and is then a most fearful 
antagonist, using its tail and its huge jaws with equal effect. One of these animals has been 
known to drive its lower jaw entirely through the plankings of a stout whaling boat, and 
another well-known individual destroyed nine boats in rapid succession. This formidable 
animal was at last killed, and in its carcase were found a whole armory of harpoons and spears 
belonging to different ships. Not only boats, but even ships have been sunk by the attacks 
of an infuriated “old bull” Cachalot. 
An American ship, the Essex , was thus destroyed by the vengeful fury of a Cachalot 
which accidentally struck itself against the keel. Idle irritated animal, evidently thinking 
that the ship was a rival Whale, retired to a short distance and then charged full at the 
vessel, striking it on one side of the bows, and crushing beams and planks like straws. There 
were at the time only a few men on board, the remainder of the crew being in the boats 
engaged in chasing the Whales ; and when the poor men returned to their ship, they found 
her fast sinking, and only reached her in time to secure a scanty stock of provision and 
water. Husbanding these precious supplies to the utmost, they made for the coast of 
Peru, but all perished excepting three, who were almost miraculously rescued as they lay 
senseless in their neglected boat, which was drifting at large in the ocean, unguided by 
human hands. 
Like the Greenland Whale, the Cachalot is an affectionate animal, and though constitu- 
tionally timid to a degree, is yet possessed of sufficient moral courage to come to the rescue of 
its wounded friends. If the harpooner strikes one female of the “school,” her companions 
will not attempt to make their escape, but will swim anxiously round their suffering com- 
panion, and remain in her vicinity until she is killed. Taking advantage of this trait of 
character, the whalers have often contrived, by sending a number of boats simultaneously, to 
secure almost every member of the “school.” The young males, however, are far more 
selfish, and when one of them is struck, the others make off as fast as they can swim, leaving 
their wounded companion to shift for himself as he best can. 
The natural timidity of the Cachalot is very remarkable, considering the gigantic size of 
the animal and the formidable array of teeth with which it is armed. Any strange object 
