Their appearance is generally hailed with delight by the mariner. Full of fine spirits, they invariably come from the breezy billows to windward. They are the lads that always live before the wind. They are accounted a lucky omen. If you yourself can withstand three cheers at beholding these vivacious fish, then heaven help ye; the spirit of godly gamesomeness is not in ye. A well-fed, plump Huzza Porpoise will yield you one good gallon of good oil. But the fine and delicate fluid extracted from his jaws is exceedingly valuable. It is in request among jewellers and watchmakers. Sailors put it on their hones. Porpoise meat is good eating, you know. It may never have occurred to you that a porpoise spouts. Indeed, his spout is so small that it is not very readily discernible. But the next time you have a chance, watch him; and you will then see the great Sperm whale himself in miniature.
它們一出現(xiàn),總要受到水手們的興高采烈的歡呼。它們總是精神飽滿地打從微風(fēng)的波濤游向上風(fēng)的地方去。它們都是始終順風(fēng)過活的小伙子。它們還被認(rèn)為是一種吉兆。如果你看到了這些生龍活虎似的魚群,而能連作三呼的話,那么上天就會賜助于你;你就沒有那種善意的愛鬧玩兒的興致了。一只養(yǎng)尊處優(yōu)的。肥肥胖胖的烏拉鯨可讓你獲得足足一加侖的純油。而且從它嘴巴所提煉出來的芬香可口的油是極其名貴的。這是珠寶商和鐘表匠所竭力搜求的東西。水手們還把油滴在磨刀石上,而且,須知這種鯨的肉非常好吃。你也許從來不會看到一條小鯨的噴水。不錯(cuò),它的噴水很小,教人不很容易辨識出來。不過,下次如有機(jī)會,那你就仔細(xì)地瞧一瞧吧;那么,你就可以看出那是大抹香鯨本身的袖珍型。
BOOK III. (Duodecimo), CHAPTER II. (Algerine Porpoise).A pirate. Very savage. He is only found, I think, in the Pacific. He is somewhat larger than the Huzza Porpoise, but much of the same general make. Provoke him, and he will buckle to a shark. I have lowered for him many times, but never yet saw him captured.
第三篇(十二開型) 第二章(海盜鯨)一種海盜。生性十分兇悍。我認(rèn)為,人們只有在太平洋上才找得到它。它稍為比烏拉鯨大一些;但大體上是相差不多的。一觸怒它,它就準(zhǔn)備把你吞了。我曾經(jīng)好幾次放下小艇想去捉它,可是,迄今還沒有捉到過。
BOOK III. (Duodecimo), CHAPTER III. (Mealy-mouthed Porpoise).-The largest kind of Porpoise; and only found in the Pacific, so far as it is known. The only English name, by which he has hitherto been designated, is that of the fisher-Right-Whale Porpoise, from the circumstance that he is chiefly found in the vicinity of that Folio.
第三篇(十二開型) 第三章(粉嘴鯨)這是小鯨中最大的一種,而且,據(jù)說迄今只在太平洋上才找得到它。它至今所用的這個(gè)唯一的英文名稱。露脊小鯨,是由那些漁夫給取出來的,主要是根據(jù)它經(jīng)常出沒于這種對開鯨的附近。
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