PREFACE. 9 



inhabitants, is not only deeply interesting, but 

 highly useful. The recent explorations of Dr. 

 Kane, in the American Arctic, has largely increased 

 the bounds of knowledge respecting that remarka- 

 ble portion of the earth's surface. 



Though less attention, perhaps, has been given 

 to the exploration of the Asiatic Arctic, through 

 Behring's Straits, it is, however, a region which 

 is yearly visited by scores of American whalemen, 

 and who have become quite familiar both with its 

 eastern and western coasts, even to the impassable 

 ice barrier, which forbids all further approaches 

 to the north. 



The acquaintance which the officers and crew 

 of the Citizen formed with the natives during the 

 space of nine months in which they lived with 

 them, and thus had so favorable an opportunity to 

 learn their characters and habits, has probably 

 never been surpassed by any other company of 

 men within the present century. 



The History of Whaling will give the reader 

 a succinct view of the commencement, progress, 

 and present state of the enterprise. The author 

 would here express his acknowledgments to whale- 

 men who have readily furnished him with many 

 valuable incidents connected with the details of 



their employment. 



L. H. 



Edgartcwn, June, 1857, 



