"lance-poles," about as long again, the whole weapon being thus
about eight feet in length, and furnished with a light line, or
"lance-warp," for the purpose of drawing it back again when it
had been darted at a whale.

Each boat was fitted with a centre-board, or sliding keel, which
was drawn up, when not in use, into a case standing in the
boat's middle, very much in the way. But the American whalemen
regard these clumsy contrivances as indispensable, so there's an
end on't. The other furniture of a boat comprised five oars of
varying lengths from sixteen to nine feet, one great steering
oar of nineteen feet, a mast and two sails of great area for so
small a craft, spritsail shape; two tubs of whale-line
containing together 1800 feet, a keg of drinking water, and
another long narrow one with a few biscuits, a lantern, candles
and matches therein; a bucket and "piggin" for baling, a small
spade, a flag or "wheft," a shoulder bomb-gun and ammunition,
two knives and two small axes. A rudder hung outside by the
stern.

With all this gear, although snugly stowed, a boat looked so
loaded that I could not help wondering how six men would be able
to work in her; but like most "deep-water" sailors, I knew very
little about boating. I was going to learn.

All this work and bustle of preparation was so rapidly carried
on, and so interesting, that before supper-time everything was
in readiness to commence operations, the time having gone so
swiftly that I could hardly believe the bell when it sounded
four times, six o'clock.