Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-31

will show him over the plantations, he will
give him of the best that the island affords,
he will get up great concerts and dances oi
the islanders; above all he will take him out
to see his pet, which is perhaps the largest
and oldest animal that was ever petted by
any man.
"Come along with me-" he said on the
morning after my arrival at the island,
come out and see nv pet"
was not much surprised when he led the
way to the boat, ior in the tropics everyone
goes by sea rather than weik mile. The
brown-skinned natives were seated on the
thwarts waiting for US, and in the bow was
barrel full of meat chopped fine.
What Is that meat for?" asked.
10 feed my pet, he said. laughing.
OFF FOR SURPRISE.
The crew rowed away from shore over the
quiet waters between the reefs. The island
was surrounded by coral, and from each cor
ner of its northern side, which was about
two miles long, wall of coral stretched
away northwsrd to meet at a sharp angle
five or six miles away. The great sea waves
broke into foam upon these walls, but within
their protection was triangle OF water as
smooth as any lake. Out over this the boat
rode easily until we had reached point
about midway between the middle point of
the reefs and the shore. Here the bows
stopped rowing, and two of them began
drumming with clubs upon the bottom of
the boat.
'Shut your eyes," said the planter, ''if
you wish to enjoy a surprise"
/ closed nv eyes, the bows soon ceased
their drumming and someone blew long
blasts upon horn. Then that, too, ceased,
and the boat lay motionless and nothing
disturbed the stiffness. All at once heard
huge sigh and felt hot and sickish
breath. There was no need for the planter
to bid me open my ewes, Tor surprise or no
surprise the lids would not stay shut. Not
more than six feet away saw huge mons.
teT floating on the surface and looking at us
with the most exprcssionless eve that ever
saw in living beast.
''There's my pet" cried the planter, 81
raised him almost from the time he was a
baby of 20 eet long, aud now he measures
g. feet over all and lots more growth to come
yet."
A MONSTER WHALE.
The pet was q sperm whale He seemed
enormous when compared with us men. Be-
hind the great head there stretched out a
long body covered in great patches with
barnacles as large as a teacup, and the sleek
fukes OF the tail, lying fat upon the water,
seemed ever SO far away, yet ever so much
VOC near when recalled whalers' accounts
OF the behavior of this animal when enraged.
The great head rose from the sea SO high
above the water that it becalmed the boat.
The eye was about tho size of an OF eye
and had almost the same deep violet shade.
The ear was not so far distant from the eve.
a simple orifce in the skin. The color
of the skin was a dusty black, which
became lighter and more yellow under
meath; except for the barnacles the skin was
quite smooth. I
The great animal lay motionless Just out
Of arms reach until the planter called to
him and dabbled his fingers iu the water
u uch as one attracts a kitten by scratching
,D the carpet Tho distant fukes made
half turn in the water and the whale moved
easily toward us and ranged up alongside
ust touching the boat. The planter reached |
'ver thei gunwale and began to pick
number of wriggling things out OF the
corners Of the whales eye. He handed |
everal n me and / found them to be small |
white ccabs, which, with all their legs |
pread cot, would cover one OF the old |
liver hall dimes. These parasites are |
constant annoyance to all whales, which |
lave no means of ridding themselves of the |
,est
ENJOYED THE R1DDANcE.
"Lend q hand" said the master of this
Inwieldy pet, sif you have any sympathy |
rith q suffering cetacean. Just scoop out |
lis mouth while Am busy with this ear"
felt tfat / should much prefer to take
iberties With an elephant than 70 handle
be whale but I soon saw that the animal