Then the smoke of the great fires under the melting pots begrimed the masts, sails, and cordage with soot.

The faces and hands of the men got so covered with oil and soot that it would have puzzled anyone to say whether they were white or black.

Their clothes, too, became so dirty that it was impossible to clean them.

But, indeed, whalemen do not much mind this.

In fact, they take a pleasure in all the dirt that surrounds them, because it is a sign of success in the main object of their voyage.