PREFACE. 



In the following pages an attempt has been made — it is 

 believed for the first time — ^to give an account of the 

 cruise of a South Sea whaler from the seaman's stand- 

 point. Two very useful books * have been published — 

 both of them over half a century ago — on the same sub- 

 ject ; but, being written by the surgeons of whale-ships 

 for scientific purposes, neither of them was interesting 

 to the general reader. They have both been long out 

 of print ; but their value to the student of natural history 

 has been, and still is, very great. Dr. Beale's book, in 

 particular, being still the authority on the sperm whale. 

 This book does not pretend to compete with either 

 of the above valuable works. Its aim is to present to 

 the general reader a simple account of the methods 

 employed, and the dangers met with, in a calling about 

 which the great mass of the public knows absolutely 

 nothing. Pending the advent of some great writer 

 who shall see the wonderful possibilities for litera- 

 ture contained in the world-wide wanderings of the 

 South Sea whale-fishers, the author has endeavoured 



• " Narrative of a Whaling Voyage round the Grlobe," by F. Debell 

 Bennett, F.R.C.S. (2 vols.). Bentley, London (1840). " The Sperm 

 Whale Fishery," by Thomas Beale, M.R.C.S. London (1835). 



