Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Historical Records of New Zealand Vol. II.

[preamble]

The three Journals comprising these Records consist of—

1.

The Journal of Captain John Biscoe, of the brig “Tula,” 148 tons, with the cutter “Lively,” 49 tons, in company, from 10th October to 22nd December, 1831.

2.

The Journal of Captain John Balleny, of the schooner “Eliza Scott,” 154 tons, with the “Sabrina,” 54 tons, in company, from 2nd December, 1838, to 17th January, 1839.

3.

A Journal supposed to be kept by the chief mate of the “Eliza Scott,” and covering the same period.

The manuscripts of the three Journals are in the possession of the Royal Geographical Society, London, and none of them had been published until permission was given the Editor to do so, in his own works, and in these Records.

The proprietors of these vessels were the Messrs. Enderby of London, who had been engaged in the whaling trade in these waters from the very first. Though small vessels they had more than the usual equipment, and were sent to look for seas and lands in the high altitudes, where perhaps might be found whales and seals as yet undisturbed. The best source of information concerning these Expeditions is the “Antarctic Manual,” published under the auspices of the Royal Geographical Society in 1901, where will be seen the Antarctic exploration-work accomplished by them both. From the point of view of enlarging the fishing and sealing grounds nothing was gained, and the loss of the “Sabrina” with all on board meant a very serious disbursement for the Messrs. Enderby. The second Expedition reached London in time to give Captain Ross, just then setting out for the south, full particulars of its experiences. It was a singular coincidence that the Commander of the second Expedition met in 1839, at Preservation Harbour in Campbell Island, the Commander of the first Expedition of 1831.