Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1850-06-22
1t makes one think of the couplet we used TO
read, when boys, in the New Eng land Primer:
Whales in the sea
GODS voice obey.
Even the mute fish that swiuis the fuod,
Leap up, and mean the praise Of God.

| have heard of one Of the whales with a
cub, when driven into shoal water, being
seen to ss.im around its young, and some
times to embrace it with her fins, and roll
over with it in the waves, evincing the ten
derest maternal solicitude. Then, as if
aware of the impending peril of her inexpe-
rienced offspring, as the boat drew near, she
would run round her calf in decreasing
circles, and try to decoy it seaward, show
ing the utmost uneasiness and anxiety
Reckoning well that, the calf once struck,
the dam would never desert it, the only care
of the harpooner was to get near enough to
bury his tremendous weapon deep in its ribs,
which was no sooner done than the poor an
imal darted away with It's anxious dam, ta-
king out hundred fathoms of line. 1t was
but little time however, before, being check
ed, and the barb lacerating its vitals, it turn
ed on IFS back, and displayed its white belly
on the surface of the water, it fioated mo-
tionless corpse.
The huge dam, with an affecting maternal
instinct more powerful than reason, never
quilted the body till cruel harpoon entered
her own sides; then, with single tap of her
tail, she cut in two one of the boats, and took
10 flight, but returned soon, exhausted with
loss of blood, TO di by her cali, evidently in
her last moments more occupied IN the pre-
servation of her young than of herself
The habits and living of the sperm whale
are quite as different from those of the right
as in its structure. Its head is enormously
large and unshapcly, and furnished with an
immense under jaw, that is armed with two
rows of mammoth teeth, forty-eight and fifty
four in number. Ii seizes lis prey with these
teeth, having no bone sieve or strainer, like
what has been already described in the right
whale, and is supported principally by the
squd, otherwise called cutie fish, -(sepia
octopus, of which one sperm whale that we
have lately captured disgorged pieces as long
as the whale boat, before going into It's furry
From what have observed myself and
have been told by others, IT appearsthat when
this whale is inclined to feed, he goes TO a
certain depth below the surface, and there
remains in an oblique position, as quiet as
possible, opening his vast elongated mouth
like a great bag net, untiltae lower Jaw hangs
down perpendiculariy, or at right angles with
the body The roof of his mouth, the tongue,
and especially the teeth, being of glisten-
ing white color, must of course present a re-
markable appearance, which seems to be that
winch attracts MS prey w hcu su"NiSn'
number of other fish, or quantity of the squd,
as the case may be, are within the mouth, ne
rapidly closes his jaw and swallows the
contents.
When this creature is fatally struck or
killed while in the act Of feeding the whale
men will soon know the items of ITS last bill
of fare; for, while the waters around are pur-
pied wiihits gore, and crimson tide is fow-
ing from its spiracles, portions of lis lance
lacerated lungs and the contents of its capa-
cious stomach also are being vomited at the
mouth The sea, too, will be lashed by Its
mighty tail with sound that may be heard
in calm weather for miles like thunder.
1t is painful to witness the death-agony OF
any creature, even the smallest that God has
given life to, much more than of one IN which
! life is so lively and tenacious. and animating
so vast bulk. And though it be true what
the dramatic poet said.
i The ,ense of deash is most in apprehension.
! .nd the poor beetle that we tread upon.