ursuit of these monsters of the deep. We might pursue the subject
through the various stages of improvement up to this time, but it
would swell this introduction beyond the limits designed. It is
proper, however, to observe that the present number of ships employed
in the whale fishery from Nantucket, is about 70, averaging about 350
tons each, and manned by about 1500 seamen.

NARRATIVE, &c.

CHAPTER I.

The Ship Globe, on board of which vessel occurred the horrid
transactions we are about to relate, belonged to the Island of
Nantucket; she was owned by Messrs. C. Mitchell, & Co. and other
merchants of that place; and commanded on this voyage by Thomas Worth,
of Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard. William Beetle, (mate,) John Lumbert,
(2d mate,) Nathaniel Fisher, (3d mate,) Gilbert Smith, (boat steerer,)
Samuel B. Comstock, do. Stephen Kidder, seaman, Peter C. Kidder, do.
Columbus Worth, do. Rowland Jones, do. John Cleveland, do. Constant
Lewis, do. Holden Henman, do. Jeremiah Ingham, do. Joseph Ignasius
Prass, do. Cyrus M. Hussey, cooper, Rowland Coffin, do. George
Comstock, seaman, and William Lay, do.

On the 15th day of December, we sailed from Edgarton, on a whaling
voyage, to the Pacific Ocean, but in working out, having carried away
the cross-jack-yard, we returned to port, and after having refitted
and sent aloft another, we sailed again on the 19th, and on the same
day anchored in Holmes' Hole. On the following day a favourable
opportunity offering to proceed to sea, we got under way, and after
having cleared the land, discharged the pilot, made sail, and
performed the necessary duties of stowing the anchors, unbending and
coiling away the cables, &c.--On the 1st of January 1823, we
experienced a heavy gale from N. W. which was but the first in the
catalogue of difficulties we were fated to encounter.--As this was our
first trial of a seaman's life, the scene presented to our view, "mid
the howling storm," was one of terrific grandeur, as well as of real
danger. But as the ship scudded well, and the wind was fair, she was
kept before it, under a close reefed main-top-sail and fore-sail,
although during the gale, which lasted forty-eight hours, the sea
frequently threatened to board us, which was prevented by the skillful
management of the helm. On the 9th of January we made the Cape Verd
Islands, bearing S. W. twenty-five miles distant, and on the 17th,
crossed the Equator. On the 29th of the same