CHAPTER IV. 



DR. KANE'S FIKST ARCTIC EXPEDITION SCENES IN 



BAFFIN'S BAY. 



IT was on the 12th of May, 1850, while cruising 

 in the Gulf of Mexico, that Dr. Kane received a 

 telegraphic despatch from the seat of the Federal 

 Government, ordering him to proceed immediately 

 to New York and join the Arctic Expedition which 

 was about to sail thence, under the command of 

 Lieut. E. J. De Haven, in search of Sir John 

 Franklin. He reached New York after a rapid 

 journey of seven days and a half, and immediately 

 provided himself with the most essential imple- 

 ments of scientific observation, and the chief ingre- 

 dients of an Arctic wardrobe. He also procured a 

 few select and favorite volumes as companions of 

 his studious solitude during the long, dark, mono- 

 tonous hours of his wintry exile. ' 



Two small brigs, named the " Advance" and the 

 "Hescue," had been appropriated by the Govern- 

 ment to the uses of this expedition. Both vessels 



together amounted only to two hundred and thirty- 



39 



