Narrative of a Voyage to the Pacific and Beering's Strait

This 1831 publication vividly describes Pacific islands, the China Seas, the Bering Strait coastline and its Inuit population.

This two-volume work, first published in 1831, describes an expedition in support of the North-West Passage exploration effort. Volume 2 covers the explorers' voyage from California via Hawai'i and China to their second summer season in the Bering Strait. It includes maps, illustrations, an Eskimo vocabulary, and notes on navigation.Frederick William Beechey (1796–1856), naval officer and hydrographer, was born into a family of artists, joined the Navy at a young age and went on to travel the world to survey coastlines and oceans. He published several accounts of his expeditions to destinations including the Arctic and Africa. This two-volume work, first published in 1831, describes his voyage as commander of the Blossom in 1825–1828. The ship's mission was to support the exploration of the North-West Passage by travelling eastwards via the Bering Strait to meet the explorers Sir John Franklin and Sir Edward Parry who were travelling west from the North Atlantic. Volume 2 follows the expedition from California, where it had overwintered, via Hawai'i and China, back to the Bering Strait for a second summer. It includes a vocabulary of Eskimo words, notes on harbours and navigation, and a vivid description of the northern lights.