- end_line
- 1570
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:18.534Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 1533
- text
- dry under a weight. In two days’ time the thin membrane, all over
tracings like those of a leaf, was transparent as isinglass, and tinted
with brilliant hues, like those of a changing silk.
Almost every day, we spied Black Fish; coal-black and glossy. They
seemed to swim by revolving round and round in the water, like a wheel;
their dorsal fins, every now and then shooting into view, like spokes.
Of a somewhat similar species, but smaller, and clipper-built about the
nose, were the Algerines; so called, probably, from their corsair
propensities; waylaying peaceful fish on the high seas, and plundering
them of body and soul at a gulp. Atrocious Turks! a crusade should be
preached against them.
Besides all these, we encountered Killers and Thrashers, by far the
most spirited and “spunky” of the finny tribes. Though little larger
than a porpoise, a band of them think nothing of assailing leviathan
himself. They bait the monster, as dogs a bull. The Killers seizing the
Right whale by his immense, sulky lower lip, and the Thrashers
fastening on to his back, and beating him with their sinewy tails.
Often they come off conquerors, worrying the enemy to death. Though,
sooth to say, if leviathan gets but one sweep al them with his terrible
tail, they go flying into the air, as if tossed from Taurus’ horn.
This sight we beheld. Had old Wouvermans, who once painted a bull bait,
been along with us, a rare chance, that, for his pencil. And Gudin or
Isabey might have thrown the blue rolling sea into the picture. Lastly,
one of Claude’s setting summer suns would have glorified the whole. Oh,
believe me, God’s creatures fighting, fin for fin, a thousand miles
from land, and with the round horizon for an arena; is no ignoble
subject for a masterpiece.
Such are a few of the sights of the great South Sea. But there is no
telling all. The Pacific is populous as China.
- title
- Chunk 3