“Pedestrians in the vicinity of
London and elsewhere may recollect
having seen large curved bones set upright in the
earth, either to form arches over gateways, or entrances
to alcoves, and they may perhaps have been told that
these were the ribs of whales.”
—TALES OF A WHALE VOYAGER TO
THE ARCTIC OCEAN.
“It was not till the boats returned
from the pursuit of these
whales, that the whites saw their ship in bloody possession
of the savages enrolled among the crew.”
—NEWSPAPER ACCOUNT OF THE TAKING
AND RETAKING OF THE WHALE-SHIP HOBOMACK.
“It is generally well known that
out of the crews of Whaling vessels
(American) few ever return in the ships on board of
which they departed.”
—CRUISE IN A WHALE BOAT.
“Suddenly a mighty mass emerged
from the water, and shot up
perpendicularly into the air. It was the while.”
—MIRIAM COFFIN OR THE WHALE
FISHERMAN.
“The Whale is harpooned to be sure;
but bethink you, how you would
manage a powerful unbroken colt, with the mere appliance
of a rope tied to the root of his tail.”
—A CHAPTER ON WHALING IN RIBS
AND TRUCKS.
“On one occasion I saw two of these
monsters (whales) probably
male and female, slowly swimming, one after the other,
within less than a stone’s throw of the shore”
(Terra Del Fuego), “over which the beech tree
extended its branches.”
—DARWIN’S VOYAGE OF A
NATURALIST.
“‘Stern all!’ exclaimed
the mate, as upon turning his head, he saw
the distended jaws of a large Sperm Whale close to
the head of the boat, threatening it with instant
destruction;—’Stern all, for your
lives!’”
—WHARTON THE WHALE KILLER.
“So be cheery, my lads,
let your hearts never fail,
While the bold harpooneer
is striking the whale!”
—NANTUCKET SONG.
“Oh, the rare old Whale,
mid storm and gale
In his ocean home
will be
A giant in might, where might
is right,
And King of the
boundless sea.”
—WHALE SONG.