68 
A VOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEN 
upon the whale — cutts and scores the fatt, w ch we call blub¬ 
ber, in square-like peices, 3 or 4 feet long, w th a great cutting- 
knife. Then, to raise it from the flesh, ther is a crab, or cap- 
stowe, sett purposely upon the poop of the ship, from whence 
ther discends a rope, with an iron hook in the end of it; and 
this hook is made to take fast hould of a peice of the fatt, or 
blubber: and as, by tourning the capstowe, it is raised and 
lifted up, the cutter, w th his long knife, looseth it from the 
flesh, euen as if the larde of a swine, were, by peece and 
peece, to be cutt off from the leane. When it is in this man¬ 
ner cleane cutt off, then doe they lower the capstowe, and lett 
it downe to float upon the water, makeing a hole in some side 
or corner of it, wherby they fasten it upon a rope. And so 
they proceed to cutt off more peeces; makeing fast together 
10 or twelve of them at once, to be towed ashoare at the 
sterne of a boat, or shallop. Theise peices, being brought to 
the shoare-side, are, by one and one, drawen upon the shoare 
by the helpe of a high crane ther placed; and at length are 
lioised up from the ground ouer a vessell, w ch is sett to re- 
ceaue the oile that runnes from it as it is cutt into smaller 
