Читать книгу The Cruise of the "Cachalot" Round the World After Sperm Whales - Frank Thomas Bullen - Страница 4

Table of Contents

CHAPTER I—OUTWARD BOUND Adrift in New Bedford—I get a ship—A

motley crowd—"Built by the mile, and cut off as you want 'em"—Mistah

Jones—Greenies—Off to sea.

CHAPTER II—PREPARING FOR ACTION Primitive steering-gear—Strange

drill—Misery below—Short commons—Goliath rigs the

"crow's-nest"—Useful information—Preparing for war—Strange weapons—A

boat-load.

CHAPTER III—FISHING BEGINS The cleanliness of a whale-ship—No

skulking—Porpoise-fishing—Cannibals—Cooking operations—Boat-drill—A

good look-out—"Black-fishing"—Roguery in all trades—Plenty of fresh

beef—The nursery of American whalemen.

CHAPTER IV—BAD WEATHER Nautical routine—The first gale—Comfort

versus speed—A grand sea-boat—The Sargasso Sea—Natural history

pursuits—Dolphin—Unconventional fishing—Rumours of a visit to the

Cape Verdes—Babel below—No allowance, but not "full and plenty"—Queer

washing—Method of sharing rations—The "slop-shop" opened—Our

prospects.

CHAPTER V—ACTUAL WARFARE. OUR FIRST WHALE Premonitions—Discussion

on whaling from unknown premisses—I wake in a fright—Sperm whales

at last—The war begins—Warning—We get fast—and get loose—In

trouble—an uncomfortable situation—No Pity-Only one whale—Rigging the

"cutting-stage"—Securing the whale alongside.

CHAPTER VI—"DIRTY WORK FOR CLEAN MONEY" Goliath in trouble—Commence

"cutting-in"—A heavy head—A tank of spermaceti—Decks running

with oil—A "Patent" mincing-machine—Extensive cooking—Dangerous

work—Three tuns of oil—A horrible mess—A thin-skinned monster—A fine

mouth of teeth.

CHAPTER VII—GETTING SOUTHWARD Captain Slocum's

amenities—Expensive beer—St. Paul's Rocks—"Bonito"—"Showery"

weather—Waterspouts—Calms—A friendly finback—A disquisition on

whales by Mistah Jones—Flying-fishing.

CHAPTER VIII—ABNER'S WHALE Abner in luck—A big "fish" at last—A feat

of endurance—A fighting whale—The sperm whale's food—Ambergris—A

good reception—Hard labour—Abner's reward—"Scrimshaw".

CHAPTER IX—OUR FIRST CALLING-PLACE A forced march—Tristan

d'Acunha—Visitors—Fresh provisions—A warm welcome—Goliath's

turn—a feathered host—Good gear—A rough time—Creeping

north—Uncertainty—"Rule of thumb"—navigation—The Mozambique Channel.

CHAPTER X—A VISIT TO SOME STRANGE PLACES Tropical thunderstorms—A

"record" day's fishing—Cetacean frivolities—Mistah Jones moralizes—A

snug harbour—Wooding and watering—Catching a turtle—Catching a

"Tartar"—A violent death—A crooked jaw—Aldabra Island—Primeval

inhabitants—A strange steed—"Pirate" birds—Good eggs—Green

cocoa-nuts—More turtle—A school of "kogia".

CHAPTER XI—ROUND THE COCOS AND SEYCHELLES We encounter a "cyclone"—A

tremendous gust—a foundering ship—To anchor for repairs—The

Cocos—Repairing damages—Around the Seychelles—A "milk" sea—A

derelict prahu—A ghastly freight—A stagnant sea.

CHAPTER XII—WHICH TREATS OF THE KRAKEN "Eyes and no eyes" at sea—Of

big mollusca—The origin of sea-serpent stories—Rediscovery of the

"Kraken"—A conflict of monsters—"The insatiable nightmares of the

sea"—Spermaceti running to waste—The East Indian maze.

CHAPTER XIII—OFF TO THE JAPAN GROUNDS A whale off Hong Kong—The

skipper and his "'bomb-gun"—Injury to the captain—Unwelcome

visitors—The heathen Chinee—We get safe off—"Death of Portagee

Jim"—The Funeral—The Coast of Japan—Port Lloyd—Meeting of

whale-ships.

CHAPTER XIV—LIBERTY DAY—AND AFTER Liberty day—I foregather with

a "beach-comber"—A big fight—Goliath on the war-path—A

court-martial—Wholesale flogging—a miserable crowd—Quite a fleet of

whale-ships—I "raise" a sperm whale—Severe competition—An unfortunate

stroke—The skipper distinguishes himself.

CHAPTER XV—WHICH COMES UNCOMFORTABLY NEAR BEING THE LAST I come

to grief—Emulating Jonah—Sharing a flurry—A long spell of

sick-leave—The whale's "sixth sense"—Off to the Kuriles—Prepare for

"bowhead" fishing—The Sea of Okhotsk—Abundant salmon—The "daintiness"

of seamen.

CHAPTER XVI—"BOWHEAD" FISHING Difference between whales—Popular ideas

exploded—The gentle mysticetus—Very tame work—Fond of tongue—Goliath

confides in me—An awful affair—Captain Slocum's death—"Not Amurath an

Amurath succeeds"—I am promoted.

CHAPTER XVII—VISIT TO HONOLULU Towards Honolulu—Missionaries and their

critics—The happy Kanaka—Honolulu—A pleasant holiday.

CHAPTER XVIII—ON THE "LINE" GROUNDS I get my opportunity—A

new harpooner—Feats under the skipper's eye—Two whales on one

line—Compliments Heavy towage—A grand haul.

CHAPTER XIX—EDGING SOUTHWARD Monotony—A school of blackfish—A boat

ripped in half—A multitude of sharks—A curious backbone—Christmas

Day—A novel Christmas dinner—A find of ambergris.

CHAPTER XX—"HUMPBACKING" AT VAU VAU "Gamming" again—a

Whitechapel rover—arrive at Vau Vau—Valuable friends—a Sunday

ashore—"Hollingside"—The natives at church—Full-dress—Very

"mishnally"—Idyllic cruising—Wonderful mother-love—A mighty feast.

CHAPTER XXI—PROGRESS OF THE "HUMPBACK" SEASON A fruitless chase—Placid

times—a stirring adventure—a vast cave—Unforeseen company—A night

of terror—We provide a feast for the sharks—the death of Abner—An

impressive ceremony—an invitation to dinner—Kanaka cookery.

CHAPTER XXII—FAREWELL TO VAU VAU Ignorance of the habits of whales—A

terrific encounter—VAE VICTIS—Rewarding our "flems"—We leave Van

Vau—The Outward bounder—Sailors' "homes"—A night of horror—Sudden

death—Futuna.

CHAPTER XXIII—AT FUTUNA, RECRUITING A fleet of nondescripts—"Tui

Tongoa" otherwise Sam—Eager recruits—Devout Catholics—A visit to

Sunday Island—A Crusoe family—Their eviction—Maori cabbage—Fine

fishing—Away for New Zealand—Sight the "Three Kings"—The Bay of

Islands.

CHAPTER XXIV—THE BAY OF ISLANDS AND NEW ZEALAND COAST Sleepy

hollow—Wood and water—liberty day—A plea for the sailors'

recreation—Our picnic—A a whiff of "May"—A delightful excursion—To

the southward again—Wintry weather—Enter Foveaux Straits.

CHAPTER XXV—ON THE SOLANDER GROUNDS Firstfruits of the Solander—An

easy catch—Delights of the Solander—Port William—The

old CHANCE—"Paddy Gilroy"—Barbarians from the East

End—Barracouta-Fishing—Wind-bound—An enormous school of

cachalots—Misfortune—A bursting whale—Back on the Solander

again—Cutting-in at Port William—Studying anatomy—Badly battered

Yankees—Paddy in luck again.

CHAPTER XXVI—PADDY'S LATEST EXPLOIT We try Preservation Inlet—An

astounding feat of Paddy Gilroy's.

CHAPTER XXVII—PORT PEGASUS Port Pegasus—Among old

acquaintances—"Mutton birds"—Skilled auxiliaries—A gratifying

catch—Leave port again—Back to the Solander—A grim escape—Our last

whales—Into Port William again—Paddy's assistance—We part with our

Kanakas—Sam's plans of conquest.

CHAPTER XXVIII—TO THE BLUFF, AND HOME And last—In high-toned

company—Another picnic—Depart from the Bluff—Hey for the Horn!—Among

the icebergs—"Scudding"—Favouring trades—A narrow escape from

collision—Home at last.