PREFACE. V 



on the collector's books — perfectly aware of this, it appeared incum- 

 bent on one devoted to the cause of science to abstract himself from 

 such interested purposes — to leave to the mate of a ship such arrange- 

 ments of his log as might best suit the purposes of his employers, 

 and to the master such plans of his private jovmial as, detailing 

 every circumstance which could aid the advancement of his own 

 interest, might be unseen by every eye but his own. 



Such I'ecords, truly remote, in regard to elucidation, fi-om facts 

 which concern the great cause of science, induced the author not 

 to trust for support to documents placed in custom-houses, nor to 

 rely on the uncertain information which miglit be coaxed from the 

 master of a whale ship, but carefully to effect his intention by 

 keeping a journal adapted to all the scientific objects he had in view. 

 This was his purpose in undertaking a voyage hazardous in the 

 extreme, cooped up with uninformed, unsociable beings. Nature 

 was the grand object of his choice, and his sole consolation. 



It appeared highly worthy of attention to sketch or describe 

 every land that came into view ; but it was not always possible, from 

 the low temperature of the atmosphere, to command the use of the 

 pencil, and consequently the cabin stove, rather than the deck, pre- 

 sented often more accommodation for that purpose. Compelled by 

 ardency of inquiry to endure unusual jjrivation of sleep, and severest 

 transitions of temperature, the author allowed to pass no oppor- 

 tunity, consistent with the maintenance of health, frequently urged 

 to the extremity of constitutional enduranc^e, lest a single thing 

 conducive to the enlightening of the public mind should escape his 

 observation. With this intent, painful personal feeling was disre- 

 garded in order to ascertain the latitude and exact situation of every 

 point of land that came into view. This was effected chiefly by 

 8 



