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its coffin-like dimensions, as upon the finest bed; much better too, for I am now prevented from rolling about in the pitching and tossing of the ship. Just forward of the mizzenmast is the steerage, covered over with a box having a slide upon it, called the "booby-hatch," a peculiar designation not applicable to those who live in the steerage, as they strenuously contend; for here are located the boatsteerers, carpenter, cooper and blacksmith.

In some ships, all the steerage men take their meals in the cabin after the captain and officers have had theirs, but it is not the case with us.

Forward of the foremast, is the forecastle, a receptacle for sailors, where twenty-one men are stowed away, in a manner mysterious to those who have never visited this part of the ship. The forecastle of the North America is much larger than those of most ships of her tonnage, and is scrubbed out regularly every morning. There is a table and a lamp, so that the men have conveniences for reading and writing if they choose to avail themselves of them; and many of them are practising writing every day or learning how to write. Their stationery they purchase out of the ship's stores, and then come to one of the officers or myself for copies, or to have their pens mended. When not otherwise occupied, they draw books from the library in the cabin, and read; or if they do not know how, get some one to teach them. We have a good library on board, consisting of about two hundred volumes, and a good proportion of sperm whalers are also provided with them. Sailors, as a general thing, are ready to avail themselves of any opportu nities for mental improvement; and I have no doubt the efforts of the benevolent in supplying ships with good books and tracts, will be attended with great success. Notwithstanding the immorality that is to be so much

THE SLOP CHEST.

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deplored among seamen, they have generally a respect for religion and its observances. It is very gratifying to take a look at the forecastle upon the Sabbath in pleasant weather. Perfect stillness prevails aboard the ship; no loud talking is allowed, while the "people," after washing and dressing themselves neatly, are seated around the forecastle, or upon the windlass, poring over the Bible or some tract.*

We have a good medicine chest on board, which I believe to be the case with a majority of whale ships. To provide for wear and tear of clothes during the long voyage, a large assortment of garments of every kind is put on board, to be sold to the men as they may need, at a slight advance upon the original cost, after the expiration of one year from the time of sailing. These are denominated "slop chest" clothes. Were perfectly fair dealing observed in all cases towards the men in the management of the "slop chest," one of the most prolific sources of discontent aboard whale ships, would be entirely removed. The men as they ship for the voyage, are told that they need not trouble themselves about any preparations, as every thing they may require, can be purchased out of the "slop chest " after they get to sea. Upon applying for necessary clothing after they are separated hundreds of miles from home, they find that every article they ask for, is indeed in the slop chest-but to have it, they are to be charged a most exorbitant profit on the first cost, so that all their hard earned wages are

* My situation as passenger, enables me to extend to the crew many acts of kindness which the stern discipline of the ship would hardly permit in an officer, and their gratitude is manifested by their avidity to oblige me whenever any occasion presents itself, and to exhibit other marks of regard. Whenever in my rambles about the ship, I go forward, their looks indicate that I am no unwelcome visiter.

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to be swallowed up to enrich those that have practised so pitiful a plan of fraud and oppression. Let me respectfully suggest to all those interested in fitting out whale ships, that upright dealing in the disposal of slop chest-goods, will ensure a far greater profit in the legitimate results of the voyage, than any exorbitant gains which may be realized in taking advantage of the necessities of the sailor.

The boats are hoisted up by means of davits, (“davies ") curved timbers upon which the boat tackles are worked, and are supported by cranes swinging underneath them. The windlass is a powerful apparatus in the forward part of a ship for hoisting the anchors or for any other purpose requiring the exertion of great power; it revolves horizontally, worked by long levers called handspikes, and is movable in one direction, but immovable in the other.

Thursday, Nov. 28. We are now within five degrees of the equator, a latitude all over the ocean visited with heavy squalls of deluging rain, with baffling winds, and oppressive heat. This region, known to the sailor, by the name of "the doldrums," extends from five to eight degrees north latitude, the interval between the trade winds, and ships are sometimes detained here for twelve or fourteen days in the most disagreeable position imaginable. For a week past the weather has been most delightful with a fine fresh breeze from the eastward.

Flying fish are found upon the deck of the ship almost every morning, having flown aboard during the night. The flying fish is a beautiful silvery fish, having delicate, gauze-like wings, that appear like enlarged fins, with which he rises from the sea and skims along with a kind of tremulous vibration, to a distance of thirty or forty yards frequently, when his wings beginning to grow dry,

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FLYING FISH.

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compel him to fall into the ocean again. Flying fish in their flight near a ship, are often taken in a current of

air, and drawn aboard, when they fall upon her deck, particularly during the night, and this is a more frequent occurrence in rough than in calm weather. They vary

very much in size, from those which are not larger than insects, and hardly discernible, to those that measure twelve or fifteen inches in length. The larger kind are furnished with an additional pair of wings, located just above the ventral fin, but smaller than those towards the head.

For a long time flying fish were considered as fabulous animals by those who had not been over the blue waters, and there are some living "remote from cities," that are still incredulous about their existence.

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ATTACK AND CAPTURE OF WHALES-GENERAL APPEARANCE OF THE SPERM WHALE-GREAT SIZE OF THE RESPIRATORY ORGANS AND VASCULAR SYSTEM-SYMPATHY OF CETACEOUS ANIMALS FOR EACH OTHER- -INACCURATE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE WHALE-NATURE OF BLUBBER- "CUTTING IN "-PERILS ATTENDING THE PROCESSSPERMACETI-" TRYING OUT.”

Monday, Dec. 2. Yesterday was a great day aboard the North America, as it was our first initiation into the appropriate business of the voyage. With the exception of a whale we saw a few days before reaching Fayal, which proved to be the fin-back, a species very rarely taken by the whaler, we have not seen the spout of a whale since leaving the United States, a period of a month and a half. For the greater part of this time the look-outs have not been stationed at mast-head, owing to the rough weather we have constantly encountered.

About eight o'clock yesterday morning, the ship was thrown into confusion by the welcome cry "There she blo-o-o-ws," sounded several times from mast-head. "Where away?" was asked by the captain on deck. "Right ahead-a school of sperm whales." And indeed, about a mile off, a frequent succession of mist-like puffs, rising above the sea, to the height of five or six feet, indicated our proximity to a school of sperm whales. Every one hurried upon deck at the first sound, and every thing was in a state of commotion. "Come down from alofthaul up the mainsail and spanker-helm down--back

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