Chap. IV. PARRY'S FIRST VOYAGE. 99 



Islands, condescended not to visit Melville Island, 

 but " two or three specimens of a caterpillar were 

 obtained, one of which was brought to England," — 

 of course as an Arctic curiosity. One large white 

 bear, having pursued Captain Sabine's servant to 

 the ship, was shot at and wounded, but made his 

 escape; it was the only one met with during the 

 stay of the party, but described as being more purely 

 white than any they had before seen. A feeble 

 willow, a saxifrage, lichens, and stunted grasses con- 

 stitute pretty nearly the Jlora of Melville Island. 



This desolate and miserable island was destined 

 to be the abode of our countrymen for nine to ten 

 dreary winter months, during three of which, as 

 they had been able to anticipate, the sun did not 

 shed on them so much as one benign ray. No 

 wonder then that not a single human being was 

 found to inhabit so repulsive a spot; and it re- 

 quired no little consideration, on the part of the 

 Commander of the expedition, to find employment 

 for the people under his command and protection, 

 to preserve their health, and to ward off despond- 

 ency for so long a period. The method hit upon by 

 Lieutenant Parry had produced, to a great degree, 

 an admirable effect. Yet something more was still 

 required than the acting of plays and the writing 

 and reading of gazettes. Both mind and body 

 demanded exercise, as the only means of protection 

 against disease ; which a large share of leisure, and 



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