Mr. Abram Osborn, Jr.,[B] Mr. John P. Fisher,[C] and Mr. John W. Norton,[D] now absent at sea, confirmed the report of the captain, besides having contributed important materials to the narrative themselves. Any information respecting the physical features of the arctic region, and the character of its 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 remarkable 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 whalemen who have readily furnished him with many valuable incidents connected with the details of their employment. L. H. EDGARTOWN, June, 1857. ILLUSTRATIONS. 1. A WHALE BITING A BOAT IN TWO, FRONTISPIECE. 2. WALRUS AMONG ICEBERGS, 47 3. WRECK OF THE CITIZEN, 63 4. NATIVE COSTUME, 85 5. HUNTING THE POLAR BEAR, 105 6. POLAR BEARS, 125 7. A SHIP AFTER A GALE, 147 8. WHALES RAISED, 169 9. LOWERING FOR WHALES, 189 10. TWO SHIPS NEAR SHORE, 205 11. PERILOUS SITUATION OF WHALEMEN, 239 12. ENEMIES OF THE WHALE, 257 13. HARPOONING A WHALE, 269 14. CUTTING IN A WHALE, 277 15. BOILING OUT, 289 CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Ship Citizen sails from New Bedford.--Captain, Officers, and Crew.--Interest centred in a Whale Ship.--Accompanying Ships. --Seasickness and Homesickness.--Arrival at Cape Verd Islands. --An Agreement with Captain Sands, of the Ship Benjamin Tucker. --Whales raised.--Christmas Supper on board of the Citizen. --A Whale Scene.--"An ugly Customer."--A Whale Incident, copied from the Vineyard Gazette.--Arrival at Hilo.--Sandwich Islands 25 CHAPTER II.