48 
GREENLAND VOYAGE. 
79° 58'. The next day, being Sunday, our re¬ 
searches were suspended, for the usual observance of 
Divine Worship. Joined company with the John 
of Greenock, commanded by my brother-in-law 
Mr Jackson. Several ships that had been with 
us for several days, now bore away to the south¬ 
ward. 
May 13th .—Immediately after the conclusion 
of the Sabbath, we hove to, reefed the top-sails, 
and took in all unnecessary sails, for the purpose 
of packing the blubber of the whale killed on the 
7th, in casks. This operation requiring part of 
the two upper tiers of casks to be cleared away, 
for the purpose of getting to the lowest or ground 
tier, so diminishes the stability, as to render the 
ship frequently unsafe. When performed under¬ 
way, therefore, it is always done under a low sail. 
It is the most tedious and disagreeable business 
connected with the fishery, the blubber having to 
be divided so small, that the casks can be filled, 
by putting it piece by piece through the bung- 
holes * : it is also disagreeable on account of the 
greasiness of the decks, and the instability of the 
ship, while it is going on; but not, as is generally 
* A particular account of this process, called in fishing 
language making-off, is given in vol. ii. p. 304., of the " Ac¬ 
count of the Arctic Regions." 
/ 
