CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Tho Whale Fishery Early History Dutch Fishing Settle- 

 ment at Smeerenburg The Rise of the New England 

 Whale Fishery : its temporary suspension and rapid recov- 

 ery The American Whaling Fleet -Statistics of the 

 Trade Sources of information respecting Cruising Grounds 

 The Author's intention in the present Work . 1 



CHAPTER II. 



CORAL ISLAND OF RIMATARA. 



The Commodore Prehle at Rimatara An Invitation to the 

 Author He goes on Shore Bimatara Beauties King 

 Temaeva His House and Chapel A Rimataran Feast 

 The King visits the Ship Contrast between the Chris- 

 tianized and Heathen Islanders of the South Seas Treach- 

 ery of the latter Reception of a Wrecked Crew by Chris- 

 tian Islanders An Islander's Argument for the Bible 14 



CHAPTER III. 



CAPTURING AND CUTTING-IN OF A WHALE. 



" There she blows !" The Boats start in pursuit Capturing 

 of a Whale The process of Cutting-in A flock of Alba- 



