370 Narrative of Captain Parry's Attempt 



nomenon was observed. A broad white fog-bow first appeared op- 

 posite the sun, as was very commonly the case ; presently it be- 

 came strongly tinged with the prismatic colours, and soon after- 

 wards no less than five other complete arches were formed within 

 the main bow, the interior ones being gradually narrower than 

 those without, but the whole of them beautifully coloured. The 

 larger bow, and the one next within it, had the red on the outer 

 or upper side of the circle, the others on the inner side. Lieu- 

 tenant Ross measured the altitude of the outer arch, which was 

 J20° 45' in the centre, its extent at the horizon 7^1° ; the altitude 

 of the sun, which was bright at the time, being 20° 40'. The 

 fog was quite wet, while the smaller bows were visible, which 

 was only twenty minutes; though the large one remained, as 

 usual, for hours together. On the 25th July, it is remarked, 

 ^' so small was the ice now around us, that we were obliged to 

 halt for the night at J2 a. m., being upon the only piece in sight 

 in any direction, on which we could trust the boats while we 

 rested.'' Such was the ice in the latitude of 82J°. 



The drift to the southward being much increased by a north- 

 erly wind, and little or no progress being made, Captain Parry, 

 on the 26th July, determined on abandoning this most hope- 

 less undertaking. 



" It had for some time past been too evident that the nature of the ice 

 with which we had to contend was such, and its drift to the southward, espe- 

 cially with a northerly wind, so great, as to put beyond our reach any thing 

 but a very moderate share of success in travelling to the northward. Still,, 

 however, we had been anxious to reach the highest latitude which our means 

 would allow ; and, with this view, although our whole object had long be- 

 come unattainable, we pushed on to the northward for thirty-five days, or 

 until half our resources were expended, and the middle of our season arrived. 

 For the last few days, the eighty-third parallel was the limit to which we 

 had ventured to extend our hopes ; but even this expectation had become 

 considerably weakened since the setting in of the last northerly wind, which 

 continued to drive us to the southward, during the necessary hours of rest, 

 nearly as much as we could gain by eleven or twelve hours of daily labour. 

 Had our success been at all proportionate to our exertions, it was my full in- 

 tention to have proceeded a few days beyond the middle of the period for 

 which we were provided, trusting to the resources we expected to find at 

 Table Island. But this was so far from being the case, that I could not but 

 consider it as incurring useless fatigue to the officers and men, and unneces- 

 sary wear and tear for the boats, to persevere any longer in the attempt. I 

 determined, therefore, on givipg the people one entire day's rest, which they 

 very much needed, and time to wash and mend their clothes, while the offi- 



