BAFFIN. 53 



saw Lancaster Sound, and, had he explored it, Parry's 

 discoveries would have been anticipated by two hundred 

 years, as they had been to some extent by the long- 

 forgotten Northmen. The opinion, however, at that 

 time, and, indeed, until within the past fifty years, 

 was, that no practicable opening to the Polar Sea 

 existed, except that at Behring's Strait. From this 

 period to about the middle of last century, the outlets 

 to the west of Hudson's Bay were the points to which 

 effort was directed ; and truly may it be said, that these 

 earlier navigators left very little for those who came 

 later. In small vessels, varying from ten to fifty tons' 

 burthen, they accomplished more than has since been 

 effected by lavishly-equipped expeditions. 



In recording the adventures, the imminent dangers, the 

 narrow escapes and the disasters that have attended the 

 hardy navigators and the enterprising explorers in the 

 frozen regions of the North, we find many incidents that 

 require the exercise of an amount of belief that is closely 

 allied to credulity, and some indeed that even indubitable 

 evidence can scarcely induce us to credit. And we have 

 exercised, and shall exercise, the greatest care, both in the 

 matter and manner of our annals, to adhere to authenticated 

 facts, stating them, without exaggeration or other disguise, 

 just as they occurred. This train of thought and remark 

 has been suggested by some wonderful discoveries re- 

 cently made by a Norwegian navigator, Captain Carlson. 

 The story seems actually improbable, but is unquestionably 

 true, as it is perfectly authenticated by evidence that can- 

 not be gainsaid. We all know that the ice-girt shores of 

 the Arctic Waters hold many secrets that relate to tiie 

 brave, daring men who have hazarded life and lost it in 



o 



the effort to seek out the natural secrets of that land of 

 mystery. We know, too, that they hold the mortal r*- 



