- description
- # CHAPTER 45. The Affidavit.
## Overview
"CHAPTER 45. The Affidavit." is a chapter extracted from the plain text file [moby_dick.txt](arke:01KG89J198KE6FY8WPVJQQRCZ6). It spans lines 8190 to 8518 of the source file and was extracted on January 30, 2026. This chapter is part of the larger [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection.
## Context
This chapter is situated within [BOOK III. (_Duodecimo_), CHAPTER III. (_Mealy-mouthed Porpoise_)](arke:01KG8AK83BA227D6NY5BT040FM). It follows [CHAPTER 44. The Chart.](arke:01KG8AM7BA5C3DYVNYY0PMFRJC) and precedes [CHAPTER 46. Surmises.](arke:01KG8AM7BAZRR92KAH7RSTBE8E), maintaining the sequential order of the original text.
## Contents
The chapter begins with an [Introduction](arke:01KG8ANJ17P7H15KY06XDY7KZK) that discusses the narrative importance of the preceding chapter and the need to further elaborate on certain "curious particulars in the habits of sperm whales" to address potential incredulity. The author states an intention to present these details through "separate citations of items, practically or reliably known."
The chapter then proceeds with a series of subsections providing anecdotal evidence related to whaling:
* **[First:](arke:01KG8ANJ173GKHF8ABPRVYYKWY)** recounts three personal instances where a harpooned whale escaped only to be re-struck and killed by the same whaleman years later, with the original harpoons still in its body. One instance describes a three-year interval during which the whaleman traveled to Africa.
* **[Secondly:](arke:01KG8ANJ17G6CF8GXM74GXMHM6)** (content not detailed in preview).
* **[Thirdly:](arke:01KG8ANJ17SX1F29R3X8H9E628)** describes an encounter where Commodore Jā, initially skeptical of a whale's strength, had his sloop-of-war damaged by a sperm whale, forcing him to port for repairs.
* An unnamed [subsection](arke:01KG8ANJ119EYGHR6V6RE15SYS) concludes the chapter (content not detailed in preview).
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- 2026-01-30T20:51:01.951Z
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- description_title
- CHAPTER 45. The Affidavit.
- end_line
- 8518
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:29.272Z
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- start_line
- 8190
- title
- CHAPTER 45. The Affidavit.