146 DANE'S GAT. 



lin's journey to the Polar Sea can be esti- 

 mated only by those who were present ; and it 

 is a great satisfaction to learn that, on his return 

 to England, he was promoted to the rank of 

 Gunner, and appointed to H.M.S. Philomel, where 

 he became no less a favourite. He unfortu- 

 nately died not long afterwards at Gibraltar ; 

 and the respect and esteem of his shipmates, 

 officers as well as seamen, was manifested by 

 the marked attention that was paid to his fune- 

 ral. As an old shipmate of my own, I am 

 happy of an opportunity of paying this tribute, 

 though indeed small, to his memory ; and, I 

 trust, the short digression which it has occa- 

 sioned will not be regretted. 



Our anchorage was in a part of the channel 

 named South Gat, formed by Dane's Island and 

 Spitsbergen. It was completely land-locked, of 

 moderate depth of water, and as secure a port 

 as a vessel under ordinary circumstances could 

 require ; and, with the exception of a cove on 

 the western side of Dane's Island,* which was 

 discovered too late to be examined, it seems 

 to be the safest port on the north-west coast 



* In this cove, which was visited by Mr. Dealy only, there 

 were found two large wooden huts, and three boats, lashed to- 

 gether and drawn up on the beach. ' There was also near the 

 huts a burying-ground, surmounted by three crosses. 



