314 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. IX. 



meteorological observations of high interest in that latitude. 

 I propose that the expedition should leave the ship in the 

 course of the month of April, when the ice would present 

 one hard and unbroken surface, over which, as I confidently 

 believe, it would not be difficult to make good thirty miles 

 per day without any exposure to wet, and probably without 

 snow-blindness. At this season, too, the ice would probably 

 be stationary, and thus the two great difficulties which we 

 formerly had to encounter would be entirely obviated. It 

 might form a part of the plan to push out supplies previously, 

 to the distance of one hundred miles, to be taken up on the 

 way, f so as to commence the journey comparatively light ; 

 and as the intention would be to complete the enterprise in 

 the course of the month of May, before any disruption of 

 the ice or any material softening of the surface had taken 

 place, similar supplies might be sent out to the same dis- 

 tance, to meet the party on their return. 



"It might, further, be worth while to take reindeer from 

 Hammerfest in passing, with the chance of keeping them 

 alive during the winter on such farinaceous food as the pro- 

 vision of the ship could furnish. 



" I will only add, that this plan might be accomplished 

 without the ship incurring any material risk, since the navi- 

 gation both out and home need only be performed at a sea- 

 son when the sea is very little encumbered with ice ; and, 

 moreover, an opportunity would be afforded during two sea- 

 sons, of stretching far to the northward in the ship if the state 

 of the ice should prove favourable. 



" I remain, yours, &c. 

 " Sir John Barrow, Bart." " W. Parry. 



The plan here described is no doubt an im- 

 provement over the one that failed ; but without 

 presuming too much, not being altogether un- 

 acquainted with a ship's navigating among what 



