 the endless procession of ships
before the wind, which for centuries past, by night and by day, have passed
between the islands of Sumatra and Java, freighted with the costliest cargoes of
the East. But while they freely waive a ceremonial like this, they do by no
means renounce their claim to more solid tribute.
    Time out of mind the piratical proas of the Malays, lurking among the low
shaded coves and islets of Sumatra, have sallied out upon the vessels sailing
through the straits, fiercely demanding tribute at the point of their spears.
Though by the repeated bloody chastisements they have received at the hands of
European cruisers, the audacity of these corsairs has of late been somewhat
repressed; yet, even at the present day, we occasionally hear of English and
American vessels, which, in those waters, have been remorselessly boarded and
pillaged.
    With a fair, fresh wind, the Pequod was now drawing nigh to these straits;
Ahab purposing to pass through them into the Javan sea, and thence, cruising
northward, over waters known to be frequented here and there by the sperm whale,
sweep inshore by the Philippine Islands, and gain the far coast of Japan, in
time for the great whaling season there. By these means, the circumnavigating
Pequod would sweep almost all the known sperm whale cruising-grounds of the
world, previous to descending upon the Line in the Pacific; where Ahab, though
everywhere else foiled in his pursuit, firmly counted upon giving battle to
Moby-Dick, in the sea he was most known to frequent; and at a season when he
might most reasonably be presumed to be haunting it.
    But how now? in this zoned quest, does Ahab touch no land? does his crew
drink air? Surely, he will stop for water. Nay. For a long time, now, the
circusrunning sun has raced within his fiery ring, and needs no sustenance but
what 's in himself. So Ahab. Mark this, too, in the whaler. While other hulls
are loaded down with alien stuff, to be transferred to foreign wharves, the
world-wandering whale-ship carries no cargo but herself and crew, their weapons
and their wants. She has a whole lake's contents bottled in her ample hold. She
is ballasted with utilities; not altogether with unusable pig-lead and
kentledge. She carries years' water in her. Clear old prime Nantucket water;
which, when three years afloat, the Nantucketer, in the Pacific, prefers to
drink before the brackish fluid, but yesterday rafted off in casks, from the
Peruvian or
