Whalesrib: “Not far from the Sea-side, they have a Temple, the Rafters and Beams of which are made of Whale-Bones; for Whales of a monstrous size are oftentimes cast up dead upon that shore. The Common People imagine, that by a secret Power bestowed by God upon the Temple, no Whale can pass it without immediate death…They keep a Whale’s rib of an incredible length for a Miracle, which lying upon the Ground with its convex part uppermost, makes an arch, the Head of which cannot be reached by a Man upon a Camel’s Back…In the Afric Temple of the Whale I leave you…you will silently worship there.” (Moby Dick, p 434-5)

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