INSTRUCTIONS. 277 



most eligible to be taken, in order to ensure a speedy arrival in the 

 Sound above mentioned. 



4. As, however, we have thought fit to cause each ship to be fitted 

 with a small steam-engine and propeller, to be used only in pushing 

 the ships through channels between masses of ice, when the wind is 

 adverse, or in a calm, we trust the difficulty usually found in such cases 

 will be much obviated ; but as the supply of fuel to be taken in the 

 ships is necessarily small, you will use it only in cases of difficulty. 



5. Lancaster Sound, and its continuation through Barrow's Strait, 

 having been four times navigated without any impediment by Sir 

 Edward Parry, and since frequently by whaling ships, will probably be 

 found without any obstacles from ice or islands ; and Sir Edward Parry 

 having also proceeded from the latter in a straight course to Melville 

 Island, and returned without experiencing any, or very little, difficulty, 

 it is hoped that the remaining portion of the passage, about nine hun- 

 dred miles, to Behring's Strait, may also be found equally free from 

 obstruction ; and in proceeding to the westward, therefore, you will not 

 stop to examine any openings either to the northward or southward in 

 that Strait, but continue to push to the westward without loss of time, 

 in the latitude of about 74^, till you have reached the longitude of 

 that portion of land on which Cape Walker is situated, or 'about 98 

 west. From that point we desire that every effort be used to endeavour 

 to penetrate to the southward and westward in a course as direct 

 towards Behring's Strait as the position and extent of the ice, or the 

 existence of land, at present unknown, may admit. 



6. We direct you to this particular part of the Polar Sea as afford- 

 ing the best prospect of accomplishing the passage to the Pacific, in 

 consequence of the unusual magnitude and apparently fixed state of 

 the barrier of ice observed by the ' Hecla' and ' Griper,' in the year 

 1820, off Cape Dundas, the south-western extremity of Melville Island ; 

 and we therefore consider that loss of time would be incurred in renew- 

 ing the attempt in that direction. But should your progress in the 

 direction before ordered be arrested by ice of a permanent appearance, 

 and that when passing the mouth of the Strait, between Devon and 

 Cornwallis Islands, you had observed that it was open and clear of ice, 

 we desire that you will didy consider, with reference to the time already 

 consumed, as well as to the symptoms of a late or early close of the 

 season, whether that channel might not offer a more practicable outlet 

 from the Archipelago, and a more ready access to the open sea, where 

 there woidd be neither islands nor banks to arrest and fix the floating 



