The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-01-15
from The NdRtacRet Inquirer.


waters in quest of Oceans unetuous mo
march. But the most perilous incidents
are encountered BY those daring mari
ners, who are engaged III the capture
otlhat species oil whaIcy'clcpedSperm
fi--pursulng the grea>ymonster through
out all his lavorite hlunts ana distanl
retreats in the broad and fathomlesS p
ciic. In general, the unwicldyleynthan
exhibits symptoms Of "A eholeric temper
ament; and appears altogether uucen-
scIouS of the system tic " tiare 50
Izealou,ly woged upon his tribe, by the
lnSienltic ait occupants 81 tfe .ar"fa-
cumbent element. lie knows nothln
of their long and labofious ctusades in
machines moved by WINNIE Dire M
not Of their cge-shell ,hHhaas, n which,
bent on death, and aImei with the pier
cling javelin, fastened 10 endless cosds,
they pull themselvrs us1 his nnued-
ate presence nor does Inc al,tn heed
the slight Skin, as ii slides towards HIM
like six legged gnat llong die ceiling,
bearing IN its prov the athletic bout
steercr, whose braw0Y hands uphold
and aim the glittering dart. Ycl, when
der, or the horn of his enemy, the
sword-lish, poriorates his rotund al
oIeaglnons SIDES, no eNaspcrated demon
could eyinCe stronger indications Of
wrath, rage and madness. At first Ia
plungcS incnntInent into the deep abyss
then wheeling upward, lac uraes h,
immense body at full length into thc al ,
lashing 10 atoms every substance wl,h-
in his reach.
| Inthe month ofDecember, the slmmer
Of the southern hemisphere, u Nmioeh-
ct ship was cruising for whales on La,
coast of Chill. Nothing could oXceo
The placid smoothncSs of the seas, o.
The peIlucld azure Of the oyerhangmr
ornament. There was Just enough o.
motlonm the atmosphere 10 propc I'll.
vessel in her course, and to nvgof-
ate her crew with the spirit of enter
PRIZE. Every sail was set, and Cye3
bosom swelled with the hope OF spec
| dy accomplishment Of the object of tin
expedition. The continent, and III 4.
usual abodcs OF morals, were II, IL o.
way. Home dndits sly Glenie amcnt,
were remembered as a bygone vision .
; and considered in The future, rs saini-
think of heaven. The occasion .
scream of an allaros, circlin, IN tlr
blue eXpanse-the moaotonous dash Of
the ships STEM through the scarcely re-
SislIng Understanding with II
var cd tone of o few hum n voice, ON
ver,ng iamilarly on deck, were thr IN
~ SOUNDS which d,s'inga shed hat rcglor
from the prmcval rcaim #
9lcnca coosaI With Etcfnit,"
: Suddenly, a morrow, Kissing eruela-
ton, like the blast Of br zer's furnace,
or HE sigh Of dying Nol.on1, brok,
upon The ready ears OF the St men. A
cry from the masthead announced the
appearance Of their prey; ana at the
same instant the crew found themsclse,
scrfounded on all sides by al extensive
shoal of whales Numbering, and spout
ing, aud blowing, like SO many English
trmpe,ers at the battle Of Waterloo.
! Forthwith, three boats were lowered,
manned, aud supplied wIth all the usa4I
paraphernalla, harpoonS, lanceS, tow
Illness walls oars, and paddles with a
sail, bag ofbredd, and a KEY Of water
to each. They had bat a short distance
10 row, ere they came III contact with
their mighty enemy. The boats we're
Scverally commanded by the shipnaS-
ter and TWO olhis mates, assisted bytheir
respective boat-stecIsls, 10 whom the du-
~ OF striking the wlIlle, Is ordinarily as
signed. The larbolrd vast boat, un-
der the second mates direction, con-
tanned in It's bow ~ active young man !;
who had obtained the esteem Of all his
shlsmates, ana whom we shall introduce
to ourreadefs under the name OF Jon Ii
Coffin. Posing his harpoon, he finn
" awaited the ordc,s Of his superior,
then seated IN the boat, stern. Before
hm, forcing it,clf lurlousiy onward, was
huge and uucouih mass, alternately
emitting from II, classy prolubermcc>
the sparkling etlnlgoncG Of a meridian
. sun, or para lily descending below the
temporary surge, forming liltle yortices
to its WAKE and pulling from its nnslrllS
. the cncroachlng btinc. Long and pa
tienlly did the o.rsmen tus At Their
sations-' pull away said the officer
eacouragnely-whle he drew towards
him the handle of his steering OAR
The very eye OF the monster was now
in sight now dart exclaimed the