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The Cruise of the Cachalot: Around the World After Sperm Whales
Bullen was first mate on the "Cachalot" during its three-year whaling expedition from New Bedford, Massachusetts, around the world by way of the Seychelles and Aldabra islands, Hong Kong, Hawaii, New Zealand, and Cape Horn. This is the ultimate whaling narrative, superbly written.
324 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1897
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132 people want to read
About the author
Frank T. Bullen
68 books2 followersFrank Thomas Bullen (1857–1915), British author and novelist, was born of poor parents in Paddington, London, on 5 April 1857. At the age of 9 he left school and took up work as an errand boy. He led a roving and adventurous life, and many of the most thrilling episodes in his books were records of his own experiences. After various adventures on shore he went to sea in 1869, and for some years roughed it in various capacities in the merchant service, suffering great hardships, as vividly described in 'The Log of a Sea Waif' and other books. In 1883 he became a clerk in the Meteorological Office until 1889. His reputation was made over the publication of The Cruise of the " Cachelot" (1906); and he also wrote, amongst other books, Idylls of the Sea (1899); Sea Wrack (1903); The Call of the Deep (1907) and A Compleat Sea Cook (1912), besides many articles and essays. He died on March 1, 1915.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 27, 2025
Excellent. This is what Moby Dick would have been, if Melville had stuck to a narrative instead of branching off in all sorts of directions!
While this is referred to as fiction by some sources, others consider it a biography made up of various events some lived, some told to the author. It reads as a continuous narrative of a three year journey on the whale ship Cachalot named, of course, for its prime target species, also known as the sperm whale. Published in 1899 it has been reprinted numerous times since. My edition was published locally in 1976.
Bullen, British but finding himself at a loose end in New Bedford, Massachusetts, signs on as a crewman on the whaler. Having worked on merchant shipping he is very familiar with the workings of a ship, but not experienced in whaling, and in this book he explains in detail his three years of both. The Cachalot set out under Captain Slocum, a volatile and hard taskmaster, given to working the crew incredibly hard, even when unnecessary. Early on Bullen forms a friendship with the fourth mate, a black sailor with whom the Captain takes exception on every occasion - a mutual dislike the reason behind which Bullen never learns. The fourth mate is particularly well informed on all matters whaling - knowledge which is imparted to Bullen, and likewise the reader.
Having nautical experience, and being skilled beyond the vast majority of the crew Bullen steps into more skilled tasks is treated better by the captain and mates, but remains well liked by the crew. While he doesn't philosophise unnecessarily, Bullen treats all men equally and fairly, is one of few who respects the fourth mate equally with the Portuguese or American mates, and steps in to lend a hand in all occasions.
Whaling at this time was carried out with a method involving small boats let loose from the ship when near the whale (or whales) but not so near the whales were aware of the ship. The small boats would then sail or paddle to the whales and attach a harpoon with a long running rope. The whale at this point would usually depart quickly, and the small boat would be taken in tow, but pay out rope until the long spool was running low at which time another boat would splice on a second rope. At some point the boat would commence reeling itself closer to the whale and upon the whale breaking the surface to breathe the boatmen would attempt to lance the whale, penetrating the vital organs. The ship would then hove too and chain up the whale and commence the removal of blubber and then the harvesting of spermaceti from the head. Obviously a brutal process, but it was a different time, of course, and conservation was not a consideration, whereas oil was considered a necessity of life.
Bullen was to lead the boat in which the first mate Mr Court was harpooner, a boat which was generally afforded the right of way and therefore made more kills, but was also manned by the better crew, as was the first mates right. In this way Bullen was able to prove his worth with the first mate - to become a boon for him later.
The three year voyage consisted of departing New Bedford moving from whaling ground to whaling grounds as the seasons dictate, but largely at the whim of the Captain. After making for the Azores (but not landing), heading south passing by the Cape Verde (again not landing) they continue south to Tristan de Cunha. From there east below the African continent, passing inside Madagascar and past the Comoros, calling at the Seychelles, passing between Sumatra and the Malay Peninsular, passing north of the Philippines and east of Japan, calling at the Bonin Islands (Ogasawara Islands of Japan) and into the Sea of Okhotsk (between the Russian mainland and Kamchatka). From there, further east and south in the Pacific where they call at Honolulu before heading southwest to Tonga, taking on native crew and spending time there recuperating.
By this time, Mr Court the first mate was captain. The fourth mate having fought with the Captain Slocum, ending both their lives in a dramatic fashion. As a result Bullen is made fourth mate, and commands a whale boat of his own, having selected as his harpooner a Tongan crewman who proves very skilled.
From Tonga they head south through the Pacific whaling grounds calling at Futuna (of Wallis and Futuna, now a French protectorate) for supplies before making south to New Zealand. Initially in the Bay of Islands on the north east coast, then to the Solander whaling grounds west and south of the lower South Island where they spent the balance of their whaling time until the ship was filled with oil and ready to make the trip back to New Bedford.
While cachelots (sperm whales) were the primary catch, the ship also took humpback whales where they were present and sperm whales were not, a number of killer whales (known as black fish in this book) and even some porpoises - although this was as much a training exercise for the green crew as any great commercial gain. Thousands of drums of oil were rendered and stored in the hold, the ultimate goal being to fill the ship to capacity.
The book covers all aspects of whaling, describing the methods and experiences of Bullen really well. Bullen was naturally more inquisitive than the rest of the crew, continually questioning, learning about others experiences and speculating as to the many unknowns about the whales.
Highly recommended for a thorough description of whaling in the late 1800s.
5 stars.
While this is referred to as fiction by some sources, others consider it a biography made up of various events some lived, some told to the author. It reads as a continuous narrative of a three year journey on the whale ship Cachalot named, of course, for its prime target species, also known as the sperm whale. Published in 1899 it has been reprinted numerous times since. My edition was published locally in 1976.
Bullen, British but finding himself at a loose end in New Bedford, Massachusetts, signs on as a crewman on the whaler. Having worked on merchant shipping he is very familiar with the workings of a ship, but not experienced in whaling, and in this book he explains in detail his three years of both. The Cachalot set out under Captain Slocum, a volatile and hard taskmaster, given to working the crew incredibly hard, even when unnecessary. Early on Bullen forms a friendship with the fourth mate, a black sailor with whom the Captain takes exception on every occasion - a mutual dislike the reason behind which Bullen never learns. The fourth mate is particularly well informed on all matters whaling - knowledge which is imparted to Bullen, and likewise the reader.
Having nautical experience, and being skilled beyond the vast majority of the crew Bullen steps into more skilled tasks is treated better by the captain and mates, but remains well liked by the crew. While he doesn't philosophise unnecessarily, Bullen treats all men equally and fairly, is one of few who respects the fourth mate equally with the Portuguese or American mates, and steps in to lend a hand in all occasions.
Whaling at this time was carried out with a method involving small boats let loose from the ship when near the whale (or whales) but not so near the whales were aware of the ship. The small boats would then sail or paddle to the whales and attach a harpoon with a long running rope. The whale at this point would usually depart quickly, and the small boat would be taken in tow, but pay out rope until the long spool was running low at which time another boat would splice on a second rope. At some point the boat would commence reeling itself closer to the whale and upon the whale breaking the surface to breathe the boatmen would attempt to lance the whale, penetrating the vital organs. The ship would then hove too and chain up the whale and commence the removal of blubber and then the harvesting of spermaceti from the head. Obviously a brutal process, but it was a different time, of course, and conservation was not a consideration, whereas oil was considered a necessity of life.
Bullen was to lead the boat in which the first mate Mr Court was harpooner, a boat which was generally afforded the right of way and therefore made more kills, but was also manned by the better crew, as was the first mates right. In this way Bullen was able to prove his worth with the first mate - to become a boon for him later.
The three year voyage consisted of departing New Bedford moving from whaling ground to whaling grounds as the seasons dictate, but largely at the whim of the Captain. After making for the Azores (but not landing), heading south passing by the Cape Verde (again not landing) they continue south to Tristan de Cunha. From there east below the African continent, passing inside Madagascar and past the Comoros, calling at the Seychelles, passing between Sumatra and the Malay Peninsular, passing north of the Philippines and east of Japan, calling at the Bonin Islands (Ogasawara Islands of Japan) and into the Sea of Okhotsk (between the Russian mainland and Kamchatka). From there, further east and south in the Pacific where they call at Honolulu before heading southwest to Tonga, taking on native crew and spending time there recuperating.
By this time, Mr Court the first mate was captain. The fourth mate having fought with the Captain Slocum, ending both their lives in a dramatic fashion. As a result Bullen is made fourth mate, and commands a whale boat of his own, having selected as his harpooner a Tongan crewman who proves very skilled.
From Tonga they head south through the Pacific whaling grounds calling at Futuna (of Wallis and Futuna, now a French protectorate) for supplies before making south to New Zealand. Initially in the Bay of Islands on the north east coast, then to the Solander whaling grounds west and south of the lower South Island where they spent the balance of their whaling time until the ship was filled with oil and ready to make the trip back to New Bedford.
While cachelots (sperm whales) were the primary catch, the ship also took humpback whales where they were present and sperm whales were not, a number of killer whales (known as black fish in this book) and even some porpoises - although this was as much a training exercise for the green crew as any great commercial gain. Thousands of drums of oil were rendered and stored in the hold, the ultimate goal being to fill the ship to capacity.
The book covers all aspects of whaling, describing the methods and experiences of Bullen really well. Bullen was naturally more inquisitive than the rest of the crew, continually questioning, learning about others experiences and speculating as to the many unknowns about the whales.
Highly recommended for a thorough description of whaling in the late 1800s.
5 stars.
March 29, 2025
Enjoyable read of a late 19th century whaling expedition. Brutal lifestyle in more than a few ways. This was a fun switch up
August 2, 2015
A good book about whaling in the late 1800's. It purports to be the author's actual experiences aboard a whaling ship hunting primarily sperm whales. I see some people regard it as primarily a work of fiction, but it is more of a description, of where they went, how the work was done, how the ship handled (evidently an outstanding little boat!), what it was like catching the whales and getting the oil out of them, along with brief descriptions of some of his fellow sailors.
This was an easy book to read. While the author uses a few nautical terms, there are not so many that it is impossible to tell what he means, and except for the most basic of them, he usually explains what they are. He also attempts to portray the dialects of a few of the other sailors, but again there is not enough of this to really interfere with understanding what is going on.
If there is anything fictional about the story, it isn't that it has much in the way of plot. But you get to spend considerable time looking out for whales, trying to bring your whales in to recover the oil etc. from them, and slipping around on the oil-soaked decks of the ship. Several of the whale boats get smashed one way or another, but comparatively few of the sailors are killed considering. We are also treated to a few of the author's opinions on how sailors are treated ashore between voyages, the natives of some of the south-Pacific islands, and the like, but on the whole the book moves right along.
This was an easy book to read. While the author uses a few nautical terms, there are not so many that it is impossible to tell what he means, and except for the most basic of them, he usually explains what they are. He also attempts to portray the dialects of a few of the other sailors, but again there is not enough of this to really interfere with understanding what is going on.
If there is anything fictional about the story, it isn't that it has much in the way of plot. But you get to spend considerable time looking out for whales, trying to bring your whales in to recover the oil etc. from them, and slipping around on the oil-soaked decks of the ship. Several of the whale boats get smashed one way or another, but comparatively few of the sailors are killed considering. We are also treated to a few of the author's opinions on how sailors are treated ashore between voyages, the natives of some of the south-Pacific islands, and the like, but on the whole the book moves right along.
May 13, 2018
Beats Melville
Bullen knows more about the actual life aboard a whaler than Melville. Bullen writes about his 3 year voyage while Melville’s tenure was only 18 months and he then jumped ship. The day in, day out routine, bad captains, bad food and dangers are on every page.
Bullen knows more about the actual life aboard a whaler than Melville. Bullen writes about his 3 year voyage while Melville’s tenure was only 18 months and he then jumped ship. The day in, day out routine, bad captains, bad food and dangers are on every page.
July 17, 2018
Very interesting, well-written memoir of what it was like to crew on a whaling ship. Plenty of gory whaling details, of course, but also plenty of plain old sailing stories for the rest of us.
November 27, 2021
Mobey Dick Adventure
Excellent read if you are interested in the exploits of a 18th century whaling ship. Great sailing chronicle from first person.
Excellent read if you are interested in the exploits of a 18th century whaling ship. Great sailing chronicle from first person.
December 7, 2022
Wonderful writing, fascinating experiences, and history from the perspective of a working man. One of the best 19th Century memoirs I’ve read, and
I’ve read many.
I’ve read many.
May 26, 2023
Another era in time
After reading this and, trying to understand the terms, I now know more the next time I set foot on a sailing vessel.
After reading this and, trying to understand the terms, I now know more the next time I set foot on a sailing vessel.
September 4, 2024
Great story even had a crew man from Buffalo
Read
August 15, 2009An interesting book based on the author's experience on a whaler during the age of sail. He is quite detailed in how the whale is hunted after first sighting and then how the oil / spermaceti is extracted.
The book was written in 1897 and the use of old English words and phrases made it a little difficult to read. The author's attempt to translate English accents into the text made certain passages almost unreadable (well, at least to me any way). Here is an example extracted from Chapter VIII:
"So yew may say, boy, that they're like peepul - got thair iudividooal pekyewlyarities, an' thars no countin' on 'em for sartin nary time."
All in all though, an interesting perspective on how difficult life was for the sailors and under what difficult conditions they had to make do.
The book was written in 1897 and the use of old English words and phrases made it a little difficult to read. The author's attempt to translate English accents into the text made certain passages almost unreadable (well, at least to me any way). Here is an example extracted from Chapter VIII:
"So yew may say, boy, that they're like peepul - got thair iudividooal pekyewlyarities, an' thars no countin' on 'em for sartin nary time."
All in all though, an interesting perspective on how difficult life was for the sailors and under what difficult conditions they had to make do.
October 19, 2012
Frank Bullen's account of a whaling voyage in the Pacific in the late 1800s is one of the whaling classics and a great look at life in the South Pacific at the end of the 19th century. I have to add a note here that most historians regard Bullen's story more as a work of embellished fiction than an actual straight account of his travels (think of Melville's "Typee") but there's no doubt that everything that Bullen experienced while whaling on a Yankee ship provided the foundation for his writing here. Especially fun to read are his accounts of life in one of the Polynesian islands, where he and the ship's crew spent a month catching humpback whales.
October 21, 2015
Very interesting read, I enjoyed it. I'd warn other readers not to take all the incidents as true! Although the author attempts to keep his story interesting and not repetitive, and he's quite aware of his amateur style, I found it a bit of an arduous read towards the end as there is no structure or plot (of course!). Still a valuable account, I'd recommend to all Age of Sail whaling enthusiasts.
August 10, 2018
Great read from the past
I read this in a search to see why sperm whales could not fend off their hunters. Humans just have a hard time realizing other animals could be intelligent and wave off as instinct what they could see. Snuck up on them out of sonar range and bloody cruel. But a vivid sea tale and Bullen was a great wordsmith and humanist for the times
I read this in a search to see why sperm whales could not fend off their hunters. Humans just have a hard time realizing other animals could be intelligent and wave off as instinct what they could see. Snuck up on them out of sonar range and bloody cruel. But a vivid sea tale and Bullen was a great wordsmith and humanist for the times
September 20, 2012
A very interesting book.
I read it after reading "In the heart of the sea" and it gave me more "first hand" information about the whaling industry. The descriptions and the authentic narrative facinated me.
I read it after reading "In the heart of the sea" and it gave me more "first hand" information about the whaling industry. The descriptions and the authentic narrative facinated me.
January 12, 2009
I loved this book. It was written in verbose victorian prose so was a tad hard to get the rhythm at first but what a tale! A nice find on one of my favorite subjects.
February 1, 2014
Good narrative about life aboard a whaling ship in the late 1800s. Full of detailed information on how whalers went about their business. Not for the squeamish!
August 18, 2023
Algo reiterativo al final. Excelente traducción.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews