第五十八章 Brit.
The chapter describes the Pequod sailing through vast meadows of “brit,” a minute yellow substance upon which the Right Whale feeds, appearing like fields of golden wheat stretching endlessly across the sea.
Sailing Through Brit Meadows
Steering northeastward from the Crozetts, the crew encountered immense meadows of brit extending for leagues in every direction, creating the illusion of sailing through boundless fields of ripe, golden wheat on the ocean surface.
Right Whales Feeding on Brit
On the second day, numerous Right Whales were spotted feeding openly, unthreatened by a Sperm Whaler like the Pequod. They swam sluggishly with open jaws through the brit, which adhered to the fringed fibers of the baleen in their mouths, allowing water to escape at the lips.
Right Whale Movement and Mower Analogy
The Right Whales advanced through the brit like morning mowers cutting through long wet grass in marshy meadows. Their movement created a strange, grassy cutting sound as they parted the brit, leaving behind endless blue swaths on the yellow sea.
Masthead View of Right Whales
Viewed from the mast-heads, particularly when stationary, the massive black forms of the whales appeared more like lifeless rock formations than living creatures. Their true nature was easily overlooked by those unfamiliar with their appearance.
Right Whale and Elephant Comparison
Similar to how travelers in India might mistake distant recumbent elephants for bare, blackened elevations of soil, observers often fail to recognize whales at first. Even upon recognition, their immensity makes it difficult to accept that such bulky masses possess the same vitality as familiar land animals like dogs or horses.
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