212 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. VI. 



been given by the reports of Franklin, Richardson, 

 Back, and subsequently by Simpson, that the coast 

 of North America, which is the southern shore of 

 the Polar Sea, is navigable throughout but by 

 canoes or boats only, and that large ships could 

 not attempt it unless at a very considerable distance 

 from the shore on the sea, and outside the nu- 

 merous chains of small islands that, on the eastern 

 portion in particular, run parallel to the coast. 



