The try-works are planted between the foremast and mainmast,
the most roomy part of the deck. The timbers beneath are of a
peculiar strength, fitted to sustain the weight of an almost
solid mass of brick and mortar, some ten feet by eight square,
and five in height. The foundation does not penetrate the deck,
but the masonry is firmly secured to the surface by ponderous
knees of iron bracing it on all sides, and screwing it down
to the timbers. On the flanks it is cased with wood, and at top
completely covered by a large, sloping, battened hatchway.
Removing this hatch we expose the great try-pots, two in number,
and each of several barrels' capacity. When not in use,
they are kept remarkably clean. Sometimes they are polished with
soapstone and sand, till they shine within like silver punchbowls.
During the night-watches some cynical old sailors will
crawl into them and coil themselves away there for a nap.
While employed in polishing them--one man in each pot, side by side--
many confidential communications are carried on, over the iron lips.
It is a place also for profound mathematical meditation.
It was in the left hand try-pot of the Pequod, with the soapstone
diligently circling round me, that I was first indirectly struck
by the remarkable fact, that in geometry all bodies gliding
along the cycloid, my soapstone for example, will descend
from any point in precisely the same time.
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