Brit

Steering north-eastward from the Crozetts, we fell in with vast meadows of brit, the minute, yellow substance, upon which the Right Whale largely feeds. For leagues and leagues it undulated round us, so that we seemed to be sailing through boundless fields of ripe and golden wheat.

Sailing northeast from the Crozetts, we came across vast meadows of brit, a tiny yellow substance. Right Whales feed largely on brit. For leagues and leagues, the brit rippled around us, so that we seemed to be sailing through endless fields of ripe, golden wheat.

On the second day, numbers of Right Whales were seen, who, secure from the attack of a Sperm Whaler like the Pequod, with open jaws sluggishly swam through the brit, which, adhering to the fringing fibres of that wondrous Venetian blind in their mouths, was in that manner separated from the water that escaped at the lip.

On the second day, many Right Whales were seen. Safe from attack by a Sperm Whaler like the Pequod, they swam slowly through the brit with their jaws open. The brit clung to the fringed fibers of the wondrous Venetian blind in their mouths. This separated the brit from the water, which escaped at their lips.

As morning mowers, who side by side slowly and seethingly advance their scythes through the long wet grass of marshy meads; even so these monsters swam, making a strange, grassy, cutting sound; and leaving behind them endless swaths of blue upon the yellow sea.*

In the morning, mowers work side by side, slowly sweeping their scythes through the long, wet grass of marshy meadows. The monsters swam like these mowers, making a strange cutting sound like scythes through grass. They left endless blue swaths behind them on the yellow sea.*

*That part of the sea known among whalemen as the “Brazil Banks” does not bear that name as the Banks of Newfoundland do, because of there being shallows and soundings there, but because of this remarkable meadow-like appearance, caused by the vast drifts of brit continually floating in those latitudes, where the Right Whale is often chased.

*Whalers call this part of the sea the “Brazil Banks.” Unlike the Banks of Newfoundland, it is not named for its shallows or measurable depths. Instead, it is named for its remarkable, meadow-like appearance. Vast drifts of brit continually float in these latitudes, where the Right Whale is often chased.

But it was only the sound they made as they parted the brit which at all reminded one of mowers. Seen from the mast-heads, especially when they paused and were stationary for a while, their vast black forms looked more like lifeless masses of rock than anything else. And as in the great hunting countries of India, the stranger at a distance will sometimes pass on the plains recumbent elephants without knowing them to be such, taking them for bare, blackened elevations of the soil; even so, often, with him, who for the first time beholds this species of the leviathans of the sea. And even when recognised at last, their immense magnitude renders it very hard really to believe that such bulky masses of overgrowth can possibly be instinct, in all parts, with the same sort of life that lives in a dog or a horse.

But only the sound they made as they parted the brit reminded one of mowers. Seen from the mastheads, their vast black forms looked more like lifeless masses of rock than anything else. This was especially true when they paused and stayed still for a while. In India’s great hunting country, a stranger crossing the plains may pass elephants lying in the distance without recognizing them. The stranger may mistake them for bare, blackened mounds of earth. Much the same often happens to someone seeing this species of sea leviathan for the first time. Even when the creatures are finally recognized, their immense size makes it hard to believe they are alive in every part. It is hard to believe that such enormous masses possess the same kind of life as a dog or horse.

Indeed, in other respects, you can hardly regard any creatures of the deep with the same feelings that you do those of the shore. For though some old naturalists have maintained that all creatures of the land are of their kind in the sea; and though taking a broad general view of the thing, this may very well be; yet coming to specialties, where, for example, does the ocean furnish any fish that in disposition answers to the sagacious kindness of the dog? The accursed shark alone can in any generic respect be said to bear comparative analogy to him.

Indeed, in other ways, you can hardly feel the same way about sea creatures as you do about land animals. Some old naturalists claimed that every kind of land creature has a counterpart in the sea. In a broad sense, that may well be true. But when you look at particular qualities, where, for example, is the fish that matches a dog’s intelligent kindness? Only the cursed shark can be said to bear any general resemblance to the dog.

But though, to landsmen in general, the native inhabitants of the seas have ever been regarded with emotions unspeakably unsocial and repelling; though we know the sea to be an everlasting terra incognita, so that Columbus sailed over numberless unknown worlds to discover his one superficial western one; though, by vast odds, the most terrific of all mortal disasters have immemorially and indiscriminately befallen tens and hundreds of thousands of those who have gone upon the waters; though but a moment’s consideration will teach, that however baby man may brag of his science and skill, and however much, in a flattering future, that science and skill may augment; yet for ever and for ever, to the crack of doom, the sea will insult and murder him, and pulverize the stateliest, stiffest frigate he can make; nevertheless, by the continual repetition of these very impressions, man has lost that sense of the full awfulness of the sea which aboriginally belongs to it.

To people on land, the creatures of the sea have always seemed indescribably hostile and repellent. We know, too, that the sea is a vast, permanently unknown territory. Columbus sailed over countless unknown worlds to discover his one western world on the surface. For ages, tens and hundreds of thousands of people who ventured onto the waters have suffered the most terrifying disasters by far that can befall mortals. These disasters have struck without distinction. A moment's thought will also teach us something else. However much man, like a child, may boast of his science and skill, and however much those abilities may grow in a promising future, the sea will insult and murder him forever, until the end of time. It will smash to pieces the grandest, strongest frigate he can build. Yet these very impressions have been repeated so often that man has lost his sense of the sea's full, inherent terror.

The first boat we read of, floated on an ocean, that with Portuguese vengeance had whelmed a whole world without leaving so much as a widow. That same ocean rolls now; that same ocean destroyed the wrecked ships of last year. Yea, foolish mortals, Noah’s flood is not yet subsided; two thirds of the fair world it yet covers.

The first boat we read about floated on an ocean that had flooded the whole world with Portuguese vengeance. It had not left so much as a widow. That same ocean still rolls today. It destroyed the wrecked ships of last year. Yes, foolish mortals, Noah’s flood has not yet gone down. It still covers two thirds of the beautiful world.

Wherein differ the sea and the land, that a miracle upon one is not a miracle upon the other? Preternatural terrors rested upon the Hebrews, when under the feet of Korah and his company the live ground opened and swallowed them up for ever; yet not a modern sun ever sets, but in precisely the same manner the live sea swallows up ships and crews.

How are the sea and the land so different that a miracle on one is not a miracle on the other? The Hebrews were seized by supernatural terror when the living ground opened beneath Korah and his followers and swallowed them forever. Yet every day, before the sun sets, the living sea swallows ships and crews in precisely the same way.

But not only is the sea such a foe to man who is an alien to it, but it is also a fiend to its own off-spring; worse than the Persian host who murdered his own guests; sparing not the creatures which itself hath spawned. Like a savage tigress that tossing in the jungle overlays her own cubs, so the sea dashes even the mightiest whales against the rocks, and leaves them there side by side with the split wrecks of ships. No mercy, no power but its own controls it. Panting and snorting like a mad battle steed that has lost its rider, the masterless ocean overruns the globe.

But the sea is not only an enemy to humans, who are strangers to it. It is also a monster to its own offspring. It is worse than the Persian host who murdered his own guests, sparing none of the creatures it has spawned. Like a wild tigress that rolls over and crushes her own cubs in the jungle, the sea hurls even the mightiest whales against the rocks. It leaves them there beside the shattered wrecks of ships. Nothing controls the sea, neither mercy nor any power but its own. Panting and snorting like a mad warhorse that has lost its rider, the masterless ocean overruns the globe.

Consider the subtleness of the sea; how its most dreaded creatures glide under water, unapparent for the most part, and treacherously hidden beneath the loveliest tints of azure. Consider also the devilish brilliance and beauty of many of its most remorseless tribes, as the dainty embellished shape of many species of sharks. Consider, once more, the universal cannibalism of the sea; all whose creatures prey upon each other, carrying on eternal war since the world began.

Consider the sea’s hidden dangers. Its most feared creatures glide underwater, mostly out of sight, treacherously hidden beneath the loveliest shades of blue. Consider, too, the devilish brilliance and beauty of many of its most ruthless creatures. Many species of sharks, for example, have delicate, beautifully patterned shapes. Consider, once more, the universal cannibalism of the sea. All its creatures prey on one another, carrying on an endless war since the world began.

Consider all this; and then turn to this green, gentle, and most docile earth; consider them both, the sea and the land; and do you not find a strange analogy to something in yourself? For as this appalling ocean surrounds the verdant land, so in the soul of man there lies one insular Tahiti, full of peace and joy, but encompassed by all the horrors of the half known life. God keep thee! Push not off from that isle, thou canst never return!

Consider all this, then turn to this green, gentle, and most yielding earth. Think of both the sea and the land. Don’t you find a strange resemblance to something within yourself? Just as this terrifying ocean surrounds the green land, so the human soul holds an island, a Tahiti full of peace and joy. But all the horrors of a life only half known surround it. God keep you! Do not set sail from that island. You can never return!