第八十七章 The Grand Armada.
This chapter, titled CHAPTER 87. The Grand Armada, documents the Pequod’s passage through the Straits of Sunda, its encounter with an immense herd of sperm whales, the ship’s chase of the herd, evasion of pursuing Malay pirates, and Queequeg’s harpooning of a whale that leads the crew’s boat into the center of the panicked shoal, including the use of druggs to subdue multiple whales before the boat reaches the herd’s calm core.
The Malacca Peninsula and Island Rampart
The narrow Malacca Peninsula, the southernmost point of Asia, is connected lengthwise to Australia by a continuous chain of islands including Sumatra, Java, Bally, and Timor, forming a natural rampart that separates the unbroken Indian Ocean from the East Indies archipelago; the Straits of Sunda and Malacca serve as key passageways through this island barrier for ships and whales.
Straits of Sunda as a Maritime Gateway
The Straits of Sunda, which divide Sumatra from Java and are flanked by the Java Head promontory, function as the central gateway to the wealth-filled East Indies archipelago, rich in spices, silks, jewels, gold, and ivory; unlike European-controlled straits, the Sunda Strait has no heavy fortifications demanding ceremonial tribute from passing ships, though local powers still claim practical tribute from vessels.
Malay Pirate Tribute in the Sunda Strait
For centuries, Malay pirates operating from hidden coves and islets around Sumatra have attacked ships passing through the Straits of Sunda, demanding tribute at spear point; while repeated European naval actions have reduced their activity in recent years, English and American vessels are still occasionally boarded and pillaged by these corsairs in the strait.
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