2 Journal. 



to tlie lovers of adventure such as are rarely met 

 with in any other part of the globe. 



It was with no small amount of pleasure that I 

 hastened to avail myself of an opportunity which 

 presented itself of proceeding in a whaler to the 

 Arctic Regions for the purpose of gaining experi- 

 ence in Arctic navigation, of witnessing the methods 

 of handling steam- vessels in the ice, and of collect- 

 ing information respecting the state of the ice in 

 the upper part of Baffin's Bay ; which might prove 

 useful should an exploring expedition be hereafter 

 despatched from this country to the unknown 

 regions of the North. 



While engaged on this interesting service I kept 

 a journal, noting each event as it occurred, not 

 trusting to or putting any faith in memory, but jot- 

 ting down any incident the moment I could find an 

 opportunity. 



I am now anxious to convey to those who are 

 interested in the subject as clear an idea as I am 

 able of the work on board a whaler, and of the 

 perils and vicissitudes of a whale -fisher's life ; and 

 it seems to me that the best way of attaining this 

 object will be to reproduce my journal as it at pre- 

 sent stands, to which will be added some further 

 particulars respecting the modern whale fishery, 

 and an account of the rescue of the survivors of the 

 ill-fated American exploring ship, " Polaris." Al- 

 though Scoresby, half a century ago, gave very full 



