52 
MAMMALIA. 
and increase the weight the Whale has to drag along with it r 'he 
speed of the animal is not perceptibly diminished. 
“ This phase of the combat necessitates a fresh device, more difficult 
and more dangerous to execute than those which preceded it. Armed 
with a mattock or sharp spade, the thrower waits till the Whale has 
raised its tail some metres out of the water, and hauling himself 
just under this formidable weapon, he throws his mattock on a 
level with the last caudal vertebra. If he divides the artery and 
the tendons, the blood gushes out in floods, and the pace slackens 
to a great extent. Owing also to this attack in the rear, the 
Whale often changes its route ; the boat is now on the side 
instead of being behind, and the harpoon can again be used. It 
would be impossible for me to describe all the devices, all the false 
attacks, all the escapes, .all the desperate attacks of man upon this 
living mass, which, with one blow of its tail-flukes, could smash 
to atoms all the boats belonging to a ship. Fortunately the 
animal does not know how formidable it really is ; it is only when 
it tries to escape that it causes disasters. When it is possible to 
do so, another boat makes itself fast to -the Whale, so as to make 
its chance of escape still less, -.and thus to come to the final result 
sooner. At each blow the animal makes hoarse -and metallic 
roarings, which can be heard for a distance of miles ; the blow, or 
what it spouts forth, is white, thick, and rises to a great height, 
until, after a lucky hit has been made, two columns of blood 
escape from the spiracles or blow-holes, rise into the air, and in 
their fall redden the sea for a great way round ; from this moment 
the Whale is considered as good as dead. And in fact, after 
some additional fresh wounds, the spouts do not rise to such a 
height, the blood is thicker, the divings are less prolonged, the 
strength of the creature is becoming exhausted, and the fishermen 
cease to contend with it. Sometimes death comes immediately 
after the appearance of blood in the spout, but life is generally 
prolonged for one or two hours more : this circumstance is regarded 
as favourable, inasmuch as the great loss of blood leaves the body 
specifically lighter, and therefore better able to float. However, 
the animal may still be lost ; the distance, the night, or the state of 
the sea does not allow of the vessel following it. On the approach 
of its death the poor Whale collects all its remaining strength, and 
in a disorderly flight, without an aim, without .any consciousness 
