DR. KANE'S EXPEDITION. 481 



to dodge about in the rear of these floating ice-moun- 

 tains, holding upon them whenever adverse winds were 

 troublesome, and pressing forward whenever an oppor- 

 tunity occurred. 



Dr. Kane's plan was based upon the probable exten- 

 sion of the land-masses of Greenland to the far north 

 a fact at that time not verified by travel, but sustained 

 by the analogies of physical geography. Greenland, 

 though looked upon as a congeries of islands connected 

 by interior glaciers, was still regarded as a peninsula, 

 whose formation recognized the same laws <iS other 

 peninsulas having a southern trend. 



Believing in the extension of this peninsula nearer to 

 the pole than any other known land, and feeling that 

 the search for Sir John Franklin would be best promoted 

 by a course that might lead most directly to the sup- 

 posed northerly open sea, Dr. Kane advanced, as in- 

 ducements in favor of his scheme : Terra Firma as the 

 basis of his operations ; a due northern line which would 

 lead soonest to the open sea ; the benefit of northern 

 land to check the southern drift of ice ; the presumed 

 existence of animal life ; and the cooperation of Esqui- 

 maux, whose settlements were supposed to extend far up 

 the coast. 



The good ship Advance entered the harbor of Fisker- 

 naes, on the 1st of July, " amid the clamor of its entire 

 population assembled on the rocks to greet us." On the 

 16th of July she passed the promontory of Swartehuk, 

 or Blackhead ; and, on the 27th, Wilcox Point ; icebergs 

 showing themselves on all sides, and rendering the nav- 

 igation of Melville Bay full of danger. On the 2d of 

 August they were fairly in the ice, and beset by fogs. 

 It was only at times that the floes opened sufficiently 

 to allow the ship to make her way through them. At 

 midnight of the 3d. however, they got clear of the bay 

 81 



