of reaching the North Pole. 25 



(which they sometimes do to the extent of 100 or 200 miles), 

 and meet with any interruption, six or eight persons can take 

 the boat upon their heads, and carry it over either land or ice 

 to the next convenient place of embarkation *. A boat of a de- 

 scription somewhat resembling this, but smaller, and placed upon 

 a light sledge-frame, or cradle of wood, would, I apprehend, 

 answer the purpose ; for whilst the lightness of its structure 

 would render it easily portable, the sledge-frame would defend 

 it from being cut or chafed by the ice ; and, indeed, whenever 

 any cut or rent might occur, the fissure, after the manner of 

 the Esquimaux, could be easily and expeditiously repaired. 



The great difficulty always experienced in launching whaleu 

 boats over the ice, — a means which must often be resorted to in 

 the whale-fishery, either when boats are upset or an entangled 

 whale takes refuge within a close boundary of ice, — forcibly im- 

 pressed me with the conviction that no boat of ordinary weight 

 could possibly be used in performing a successful journey to 

 the pole. And, on reading Captain Parry's narrative of his 

 late experiment, I was much more struck by the immense dif- 

 ficulties their hearty exertions enabled them to surmount, not- 

 withstanding all the disadvantages under which they laboured, 

 than by the want of greater success. And in farther proof of 

 my previous personal conviction of the vital importance of the 

 weight of the boats, I may be permitted to mention the fact, 

 that, when I first heard from a near relative of Captain Parry'*s, 

 vhilst the expedition was yet abroad, that the sledge-boats were 

 each of the weight of near three quarters of a ton, I expressed 

 the strongest conviction that this circumstance alone must be 

 fatal to success ; and I moreover added, that, from my inti- 

 mate knowledge of the nature of the ice, and the difficulties to 

 be encountered, I should feel perfectly secure in venturing any 

 consideration whatever in support of the belief that it was im- 

 possible to succeed -f-. 



• Crantz's Greenland, vol. i. p. 148-150. The length of the umiak Crantz 

 states at " commonly 6, nay 8 or 9 fathoms long." Also Saabye's " Green- 

 land,'* p. 18-20. 



t This conversation occurred at a dinner party in Liverpool, with my 

 intelligent and scientific friend the Rev. Edward Stanley, Rector of Alderley, 

 on the 4th of September 1827. Captain Parry was not heard of till towards 

 Uie end of the month, having arrived at the Admiralty on the 29th. 



