INTRODUCTION. 



A new edition of this narrative having been called for, I 

 gladly avail myself of the opportunity to make some few 

 alterations and additions which I trust will render it more 

 acceptable to the public. Much of the Appendix has been 

 omitted, in order to bring the volume to its present reduced 

 size. The illustrations are more numerous, the text has 

 been corrected, and some new matter dispersed through its 

 pages chiefly descriptive of the habits of arctic animals, of 

 our tent life on the floe, and of our sledging journeys. 



The latter, being the special means by which arctic 

 exploration is now-a-days mainly carried on, deserve more 

 than a passing notice. 



In these details, which I have introduced at the suggestion 

 of some valued friends, I have had recourse to my rough 

 journal kept on board the ' Fox,' and to my diaries in three 

 preceding polar expeditions of search. 1 



In submitting this new edition to the notice of the public, 

 I feel it incumbent on me, not only to acknowledge the 

 indulgence with which the narrative was originally received, 

 but to fulfil the higher duty of expressing the deep sense 

 entertained by my officers and men, as well as myself, of our 

 country's sympathy and approbation, and of the generous 

 reception we met with on returning to our native shores. 

 We had not done all that we desired, but we had done our 



1 Under Sir James Ross, Sir Horatio Austin, and Sir Edward Belcher. 



