64 
A VOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEN 
were, rooted, in his uppermost jawe,— : spreading on both sides 
of his toung, in nomber more than 260 on one side, and as 
manie on the other side. The longest finnes are placed in the 
midest of his mouth; 7 and the rest doe orderlie shorten more 
and more, both backwards and forwards, from 12 feet to less 
then 3 ynches in length. His eies are not much bigger then 
the eies of an oxe; and his bodie in fashion round, w th a very 
broad-spreading taile, w ch is of a tough and solide substance; 
and, therfore, it is used for to make chopping-blocks, to chop 
the whale’s fatt upon (w ch wee call blubber). And of the like 
7 The description given by Purchas begins as follows: “The whale is a fish, or 
sea-beast, of a huge bignesse, about sixty-fiue foot long, and thirty-fiue foot thicke. His 
head is a third part of all his bodie’s quantitie; his spacious mouth contayning a very 
great tongue, and all his finnes, which we call whale-finnes. These finnes are fastened 
or rooted in his vpper chap, and spread oner his tongue on both sides of his mouth; 
being in number about two hundred and fiftie on one side, and as many on the other 
side. The longest finnes are placed in the midst of his mouth; ” &c. 
The above extract, and the one given at p. 301, will suffice to show the resemblance 
between the descriptions of Purchas relating to these subjects, and those of this narra¬ 
tive. The inference appears to be a reasonable one, that, if Fotherby was the author 
of the notes used by Purchas in compiling his account, he was also the author of this 
narrative; as the similarity in the two is too great to be accidental. Purchas has not 
improved the accuracy of the statement by altering the figures. 
