CHAPTER VIII. 



BCORESBY'S DISCOVERIES. CLAVERING. PARRY'S POLAR VOYAGE. 



THE REINDEER. HECLA COVE. BOAT AND SLEDGE EXPEDITION. 



NIGHT TRAVELLING. HUMMOCKS. SOFTENING OF THE ICE. DRIFTING 



OF THE FLOES. HIGHEST POINT REACHED. THE POLAR BEAR. RE 



TURN TO THE SHIP. HOMEWARD BOUND. 



WHILE Parry, under the auspices of the British gov- 

 ernment, was engaged in his second attempt to effect 

 the north-west passage, a private adventurer, Mr. 

 Scoresby, was making a voyage towards the north 

 pole, which must not be passed without notice. As 

 early as 1806, this gentleman, who was bred a practical 

 whaleman, had, in the pursuit of his calling, penetrated 

 to latitude 81 30', being a degree higher than Phipps 

 had attained, and only five hundred geographical miles 

 from the pole. In 1817 he also made an excursion on 

 Jan Mayen's Island. He had, on both occasions, 

 made observations and explorations with an intelligent 

 and scientific eye, very unusual among those who pur- 

 sue a calling so rough and dangerous as whaling. 



At Mitre Cape he ascended to the summit of the sin- 

 gular cliff of which it consists, and which is estimated 

 to be three thousand feet above the level of the ocean. 

 The view is described as sublime : on the east were 

 two finely-sheltered bays ; the sea formed an immense 

 unruffled expanse to the west, the icebergs rearing their 

 fantastic forms, glittering in the sunshine ; the valleys 



