INTRODUCTION. 



IJs^crTnlv^ "^""^ following narrative, by Commander 

 ^ Albert H. Markham, of a whaling voy- 

 age in the Arctic regions in the Dundee 

 steam whaler " Arctic/' will, I feel 

 sure, be read with much interest by all who relish 

 an unadorned tale of adventure, 1 and awaken sur- 

 prise amongst the large section of the British 

 community who take note of progress in Arctic 

 exploration. The voyage of the " Arctic/' apa^rt 

 from the boldness and skill with which her dashing 

 captain, William Adams, pursued his mighty and 

 valuable prey through ice, storm, and dangers, 

 proves in a remarkable manner how much the in- 

 troduction of steam power in whaling ships has 



1 Captain Markham was appointed to H. M. S. " Sultan " 

 before he had been three weeks in England, after his return 

 from the Arctic regions ; and his journal has been printed, in 

 his absence, almost exactly as it was written from day to day, 

 when the incidents it records were fresh in his mind. 



