Chap. VI. CAPTAIN PARRY'S SECOND VOYAGE. 15 L 



any such strait existed, or whether it was not a 

 chimera invented by Captain Middleton. As this 

 geographical point had never been decided, Parry 

 had some difficulty in determining the question of 

 trying it or not, as in his present position with 

 regard to Repulse Bay, which he was ordered to 

 examine, the distance was not more by passing 

 that Strait than fifty leagues ; whereas if com- 

 pelled to pursue a route round the south end of 

 Southampton Island, it would make the distance 

 from one hundred and seventy to two hundred 

 leagues. " After the most anxious consideration I 

 came to the resolution of attempting the direct 

 passage of the Frozen Strait, though, I confess, not 

 without some apprehension of the risk I was in- 

 curring, and of the serious loss of time which — in 

 case of failure, either from the non-existence of the 

 strait, or from the insuperable obstacles which its 

 name implies — would thus be inevitably occasioned 

 to the expedition." 



His decision was right ; and though much ham- 

 pered by floes, and hummocks, and packs of ice, he 

 was still less so than in the neighbourhood of Reso- 

 lution Island; and he was rewarded by the dis- 

 covery, not far from its entrance, of what he calls 

 " a magnificent bay ;" which the officers honoured 

 with the name of the * Duke of York's Bay,' having 

 been first entered on his birth-day. It is situated 

 on the north-eastern extremity of Southampton 

 Island. The bay, however, on the western side 



