180 PARRY'S POLAR VOYAGE. 



to the eastward of Hecla Cove, that of 1690 ; the in- 

 scription distinctly appearing in prominent relief, occa- 

 sioned by the preservation of the wood by the paint, 

 while the unpainted part had decayed around it. 



It was now the 20th of June, and the best of the 

 season had been spent in beating backwards and for- 

 wards on these ice-bound shores ; he therefore resolved, 

 without further delay, to prosecute the main object of 

 his enterprise ; and, though scarcely hoping to reach the 

 pole, he determined, at all events, to push as far north as 

 possible. He took with him seventy-one days' provi- 

 sion, consisting of pemmican, biscuit, cocoa, and rum. 

 The spirit of wine, as the most portable and concen- 

 trated fuel, was alone used for that purpose. There 

 were provided changes of warm clothing, thick fur 

 dresses for sleeping in, and strong Esquimaux boots. 

 The reindeer, and also the wheels, were given up at 

 once, as altogether useless in the present rugged state 

 of the ice ; but four sledges, constructed out of the 

 native snow-shoes, proved very convenient for dragging 

 along the baggage. 



On the 22d of June the expeditionary party quitted 

 the ship, and betook themselves to the boats, amid the 

 cheers of their associates. Although all the shores 

 were still frozen, they had an open sea, calm and smooth 

 as a mirror, through which, with their loaded vessels, 

 they advanced slowly, but agreeably. After proceeding 

 thus for about eighty miles, they reached, not, as 

 they had hoped, the main body of the ice, but a surface 

 intermediate between ice and water. This could neither 

 be walked nor sailed over, but was to be passed by the 

 two methods alternately ; and it was on such a strange 

 and perilous plain that they had to land, in order to 

 commence their laborious journey toward the pole. 



Parry describes in an interesting manner the singular 



