Arctic Rovings: or, The Adventures of A New Bedford Boy on Sea

1861. HALL, Daniel Weston. Arctic Rovings: or, The Adventures of A New Bedford Boy on Sea and Land. Boston: Published by Abel Tompkins, 1861. 171pp. plus [4]pp. of advertisements. Frontis. 12mo. Original publisher's blindstamped rust cloth, spine gilt. Boards rubbed, spine ends and corners worn. Bookplate on front pastedown. Occasional areas of foxing, small hole to upper margin of pp.143-4 (no text affected). Good plus. A scarce account of a teenager's adventures at sea, including Pacific whaling experiences and visits to Hawaii and Siberia. During a three-month stay in Honolulu, Hall witnessed a volcanic eruption and planned his escape from the cruel captain of the whaleship Condor. After some whaling adventures in the Pacific, Hall deserted ship along the coast of Siberia, near the bank of the Oudskoi River. He was eventually rescued as a result of his father's efforts back home in New Bedford. One of the reasons Hall published this work was to call the public's attention to the severe punishments suffered by seamen, especially in the whaling fleet, and to encourage the reform of discipline at sea. Includes a chapter entitled "Peep at the Whale Fisheries." Not in the catalogue of the Hill Collection (though there is a copy at UC San Diego) nor, apparently, Arctic Bibliography. Sabin 29745. Forster 469. Forbes 2422.