Sulphur Bottom
The Sulphur Bottom is identified as a gentile whale with a distinctive brimstone belly, possibly acquired from deep dives along Tartarian tiles. This whale remains elusive, being seen only in the remoter southern seas, and always at too great a distance to observe closely. It is never chased due to its ability to outrun substantial lengths of whaling line. Numerous prodigies are told of this creature, but the narrator admits no further truthful details can be added, even by the most experienced Nantucket whalemen.
第一部 (Folio)
Book I, designated as the Folio section of the work, concludes with this chapter. The Folio encompasses the largest whales, including the Sulphur Bottom discussed in this chapter. Following the description of the Sulphur Bottom, the book transitions to its second section.
第二部 (Octavo)
Book II marks the beginning of the Octavo section of the work, which follows the conclusion of Book I. This section introduces a new category of whales of middling magnitude, transitioning the reader from the largest whales to those of intermediate size.
OCTAVOES
The Octavoes represent whales of middling magnitude, positioned between the large Folio whales and smaller varieties. The section specifically notes an explanatory distinction: this book is called Octavo rather than Quarto because while the whales in this order are smaller than those of the former order, they retain a proportionate likeness in figure to the larger whales. Similarly, the Octavo volume preserves the shape of the Folio volume in its dimensioned form, unlike the Quarto volume.
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