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REVIEWS OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
Let us now hear Mr. Beale in his own words :— 
“ The scenes which sometimes occur during the chase and capture of this Whale defy descrip, 
tion. Let the reader suppose himself on the deck of a South-Seaman, cruising in the North Pacific 
Ocean at its Japanese confine— Fe may be musing over some past event, the ship may be sailing 
gently along over the smooth ocean, every thing around solemnly still, with the sun pouring its 
intense rays with dazzling brightness; suddenly, the monotonous quietude is broken by an ani¬ 
mated voice from the mast-head, exclaiming, ‘there she spouts!’ The captain starts on deck in 
an instant, and inquires, 8 where away ?’ but perhaps the next moment every one aloft and on 
deck can perceive an enormous Whale lyingabout a quarter of a mile from the ship, on the surface 
of the sea, having just come up to breathe—his large ‘ hump’ projecting three feet out of the water, 
when at the end of every ten seconds, the spout is seen rushing from the fore-part of his enormous 
head, followed by the cry of every one on board, who join heart and soul in the chorus of ‘ there 
again !’ keeping time with the duration of the spout. But while they have been looking, a few 
seconds have expired—they rush into the boats, which are directly lowered to receive them—and 
in two minutes from the time of first observing the Whale, three or four boats are down, and are 
darting through the water with their utmost speed towards their intended victim, perhaps accom¬ 
panied with a song from the headsman, who urges the quick and powerful plying of the oar with 
the common Whaling chant of 
‘ Aw r ay my boys, away my boys, ’tis time for us to go.’ 
“ But while they are pushing along, the Whale is breathing, they have yet perhaps some dis¬ 
tance to pull before they can get a chance of striking him with the harpoon. His 4 spoutings are 
nearly out,' be is about to descend, or he hears the boats approaching. The few people left on 
board, and who are anxiously watching the Whale and the gradual approach of the boats, 
exclaim, 4 Ah, he is gone down !’ yet he spouts again, but slowly, the water is again seen agitated 
around him, the spectators on board with breathless anxiety think they perceive his ‘small’ rising 
in preparation for his descent; ‘ he will be lost,’ they exclaim, for the boats are not yet near enough 
to strike him—and the men are still bending their oars in each with all their strength, to claim 
the honour of the first blow with the harpoon. The bow-boat has the advantage of being the 
nearest to the Whale; the others, for fear of disturbing the unconscious monster, are now doomed 
to drop astern. One more spout is seen slowly curling forth—it is his last, he is rising—his ‘ small’ 
is bent, his enormous tail is expected to appear every instant, but the boats shoot rapidly alongside 
of the gigantic creature. ‘ Peak jmur oars,’ exclaims the mate, and directly they flourish in the 
air; the glistening harpoon is seen above the head of the harpooner, in an instant it is darted with 
unerring force and aim, and is buried deeply in the side of the huge animal. Jt is ‘socket up;’ 
that is, it is buried in his flesh up to the socket which admits the handle or 4 pole’ of the harpoon. 
A cheer from those in the boats, and from the seamen on board, reverberates along the still deep 
at the same moment. The sea, which a moment before was unruffled, now becomes lashed into 
foam by the immense strength of the wounded Whale, who with his vast tail strikes in all direc¬ 
tions at his enemies. Now his enormous head rises high into the air, then his flukes are seen lashing 
everywhere, his huge body writhes in violent contortions from the agony the 4 iron’ has inflicted. 
The water all around him is a mass of foam, some of it darts to a considerable height—the 
sounds of the blows from his tail on the surface of the sea can be heard for miles. 
44 4 Stern all,’ cries the headsman ! but the Whale suddenly disappears; he has sounded ; the 
line is running through the groove at the head of the boat, with lightning-like velocity—it ignites, 
from the heat produced by the friction, but the headsman, cool and collected, pours water upon it 
as it passes. But an oar is now held up in their boat; it signifies that their line is rapidly running 
out; two hundred fathoms are nearly exhausted; up flies one of the other boats, and 4 bends 
on' anotherdine, just in time to save that which was nearly lost. But still the monster descends ; 
