except he could contribute some of that information he so absorbingly sought. 除非是对方能够对他那种寤寐以求的东西提供一点消息。

　　But all this might remain inadequately estimated, 那么，所有这一切估计还是不挺恰切,

　　were not something said here of the peculiar usages of whaling-vessels when meeting each other in foreign seas, and especially on a common cruising-ground. 如果我不在这里说一说一般捕鲸船的特殊习俗，说一说两艘船彼此在外洋上，尤其在一般巡游场上相遇时的一般情况。

　　If two strangers crossing the Pine Barrens in New York State, or the equally desolate Salisbury Plain in England; 如果有两个陌生人在经过纽约州的松林砂地(松林砂地——指一些遍生茂密的松林的砂地。)，或者在经过同样荒僻的英国的索尔兹巴立平原(索尔兹巴立平原——在英国尉尔特郡。)的时候，

　　if casually encountering each other in such inhospitable wilds, these twain, for the life of them, cannot well avoid a mutual salutation; 如果他们彼此偶然在这么荒凉的原野相遇了，这两个人，无论如何，总免不了要彼此招呼一声，

　　and stopping for a moment to interchange the news; and, perhaps, sitting down for a while and resting in concert:   停下来互通一下消息，也许还不约而同地坐下来休息一阵，

　　then, how much more natural that upon the illimitable Pine Barrens and Salisbury Plains of the sea,  那么，多么合情合理，象在这种无边无涯的松林砂地和索尔兹巴立平原似的海洋上，

　　two whaling vessels descrying each other at the ends of the earth--off lone Fanning's Island, or the far away King's Mills; 两艘捕鲸船在天涯地角——在荒凉的法宁之岛(法宁之岛——在太平洋之北的一个英属珊瑚岛，以发现者美国人法宁命名。)上，或者是在老远老远的“国王的磨坊”(“国王的磨坊”——系作者故意开玩笑的一个岛名，即金氏米尔群岛，又称吉尔柏特群岛，它包括有十六个环状瑚瑚岛，在太平洋上为赤道所平分，位于东经一百七十及一百八十度间。)中相见的时候，彼此打个招呼，

　　how much more natural, I say, that under such circumstances these ships should not only interchange hails,  我说，在这样的情况下，两艘船不但要互作招呼，

　　but come into still closer, more friendly and sociable contact. 而且还要驶拢来，更友善和蔼的接触一番，那又是多么合情合理！

　　And especially would this seem to be a matter of course, in the case of vessels owned in one seaport, 尤其是万一这两艘船都是同乡人，

　　and whose captains, officers, and not a few of the men are personally known to each other; 他们的船长们，船上的头目，和大多数的水手们又都是彼此熟悉的，

　　and consequently, have all sorts of dear domestic things to talk about. 那么，这就更是理所当然的了，这样一来，就有各种可爱的家乡事情可以谈谈了。