In most American whalemen the mast-heads are manned almost simultaneously with the vessel's leaving her port; even though she may have fifteen thousand miles, and more, to sail ere reaching her proper cruising ground.  大多数美国捕鲸船,差不多船只一离开港埠,就同时配置了桅顶望者;即使船只到达它的正式的巡游场,还有一万五千海里以上的航程也是如此。

And if, after a three, four, or five years' voyage she is drawing nigh home with anything empty in her-say, an empty vial even-then, her mast-heads are kept manned to the last! 如果在航行了三五年后,船只已将靠近家门,船里什么东西都空了...比如说,连一只小瓶子也空了的时候,还是要把桅顶望者配置到底,

And not till her skysail-poles sail in among the spires of the port, does she altogether relinquish the hope of capturing one whale more. 要到船只的最上桅杆驶进港埠的塔尖丛中,才会完全放弃它那再捉到一条大鲸的希望。

Now, as the business of standing mast-heads, ashore or afloat, is a very ancient and interesting one, let us in some measure expatiate here.  因为桅顶望这项差使,不论是停泊还是行驶的时候,都是一桩古趣盎然的工作,所以,我们不妨在这里稍为细说一番。

I take it, that the earliest standers of mast-heads were the old Egyptians; because, in all my researches, I find none prior to them.  我认为,最早的桅顶