

CHAPTER I. 



Departure from England. — Cape Farewell. — Porpoises and 

 Gulls. — Driftwood with Roots and Bark. — Leave the 

 Vicinity of Cape Farewell. — Icebergs. — Course novel and 

 interesting. — Resolution Island. — Whirlpool. — Descry 

 two Vessels. — Dreary Aspect of the Savage Islands. — Vi- 

 sited by Esquimaux. — Difficidt Navigation. — Vessel 

 moored to an Iceberg. — Crew exercised at Small-arms under 

 its Lee. — Geological Indications. — Careen the Ship. — 

 Progress through the Ice. — Salisbury Island. — Ship fol- 

 lowed by Esquimaux. — Land discovered. — Deviation in 



Compasses Trinity Isles. — Ship obliged to heave-to. — 



Whales seen. — Ship imbedded in Ice Boffi7i and South- 

 ampton Islands. — Perilous Situation. — White Whales. — 

 Winter Island. — Water Sky. 



The incidents of a voyage along the coasts of 

 Great Britain and across the North Atlantic, 

 however interesting to the actors, have been 

 rendered so familiar to the English reader, that, 

 passing rapidly over the earlier events, I shall 

 hasten forward to the peculiar circumstances that 

 distinguish the present expedition from those 

 which have preceded it. 



I had requested, and obtained, from the Ad- 

 miralty the assistance of a steam vessel until we 

 should be clear of the shoals, and about eleven 

 a. m. of the 14th June, 1836, the Terror left 

 Chatham, and was towed along the Medway by 

 the Rhadamanthus steam vessel, amidst cheers 



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