he further end the
head and scull of the animal formed a kitchen, the smoke from the fire
escaping through the spiracles or breathing-holes above.

On each side of the room into which I was ushered were raised seats,
covered with seal skins, and the other end of the house was divided off
with a species of black skin, into sleeping apartments for the master of
the house and his family. There was not the least smell, as I
anticipated before I entered this strange dwelling-place.

I was introduced to his wife, who welcomed me with cordiality. She was
dressed in the same dark skin as her husband, but of a much finer
texture, and had a scarlet cap on her head, as well as scarlet
trimmings to the front and bottom of her dress, which on the whole was
not only comfortable but becoming in its appearance.

A bowl of milk was presented to me, to refresh me after my walk and long
abstinence.

"How!" observed I, "have you milk here without pasture?"

"Yes," replied my host, "drink it, and tell me if you think it
palatable."

I did so, and found it very little different from the asses' milk of my
own country--perhaps with a little more acidity of taste. In the
meantime several varieties of shell-fish, and a large cheese, were
placed upon the table, which, as well as the stools, was composed
entirely of bone.

"And cheese, too?" said I.

"Yes, and you will find it not bad. It is the milk of the whale which
you have drank, and the cheese is prepared from the same."

* * * * *

"Friend Huckaback," observed the pacha, "I think you are telling me
lies. Who ever heard of whale's milk?"

"Allah forbid that I should attempt to deceive a person of your
highness's judgment; it could only end in mortification and defeat to
myself."

"That's very true," observed the pacha.

"Your highness has not called to mind, that the whale is what
naturalists call a 'hot-blood animal,' with arteries and circulation of
blood similar to the human species; and that it brings forth its young
alive, and nurses it at the breast."

"Very true," observed the pacha. "I had forgot that."

* * * * *

My conductor resumed as follows:--"As I told you before, the whale is
the staple of this island. You observe that his skin serves us as a
house; from his bones we form all our implements--from his sinews, our
thickest ropes down to our finest thread. The dress we wear is composed
of the bel