WRECK OF THE FURY. 53 



House ; this road being likewise crossed, a descent 

 of about a dozen steps places the observer in other 

 fields, which, ultimately, (after crossing another road) 

 discharge the searcher after the picturesque in the 

 village of Mutley. This village contains a few 

 pleasant retreats ; the reader will shortly find himself 

 on Mutley Plain, which has lately been much impro- 

 ved by the erection of some very neat villas, and the 

 plantation of several young elm trees. Thence an 

 easy walk of a mile conducts to the town. 



G. 



WRECK OF THE FUHY. 



The Victory being now securely moored in a good ice-harbour, 

 within a quarter of a mile of the place where the Fury's stores 

 were landed, we were anxious to examine the spot ; and, having 

 ordered the men a good meal, with the rest, to which they were 

 so well entitled, I landed, at nine, with Commander Ross, Mr. 

 Thom, and the surgeon. We found the coast almost lined with 

 coal ; and it was with no common interest that we proceeded to 

 the only tent which remained entire. This had been the mess 

 tent of the Fury's officers ; but it was too evident that the bears 

 had been paying frequent visits. There had been a pocket near 

 the door where Commander Ross had left his memorandum 

 book and specimens of birds; but it was torn down, without 

 leaving a fragment of what it contained. The sides of the tent 

 were also, in many places, torn out of the ground, but it was in 

 other respects entire. 



Where the preserved meats and vegetables had been deposited, 

 we found every thing entire. The canisters had been piled up in 

 two heaps ; but though quite exposed to all the chances of the 

 climate, for four years, they had not suffered in the slightest 

 degree. There had been no water to rust them, and the security 

 of the joinings had prevented the bears from smelling their con- 

 tents. Had they known what was within, not much of this pro- 

 vision would have come to our share, and they would have had 

 more reason than we to be thankful for Mr. Donkin's patent. 

 On examining the contents, they were not found frozen, nor did 

 the taste of the several articles appear to have been in the least 

 degree altered. This was indeed no small satisfaction; as it was 

 not our luxury, but our very existence and the prospect of success, 

 which were implicated in this most gratifying discovery. 1?he 

 wine, spirits, sugar, bread, flour, and cocoa, were in equally good 



