160 LECTUKE ON ARCTIC EXPLORATIONS. 



some valuable collections; these embrace dredgings from the various 

 points visited, plants from several different localities, skins and skele- 

 tons of the principal mammals, skins of many of the Arctic birds, and 

 a large number of skulls of Esquimaux. Our hunters captured up- 

 wards of two hundred reindeer. The walrus and seal of different 

 varieties Avere also abundant. During the summer several species of 

 waterfowl swarmed upon the islands and cliffs about the mouth of 

 Smith strait. The most numerous of these were the little auk (Uria 

 alle) and the eider duck, (Somateria moUssima,) several hundreds of 

 which were captured. From these sources I had no difficulty in con- 

 stantly supplying our party with fresh food, and to tliis I attribute in 

 a great measure our entire exemption from disease. 



Leaving Whale sound, we continued southward, and completed the 

 survey of the eastern coast of North Baffin bay, from Cape Alexander 

 to Granville bay. This survey was made independently of the charts 

 of my predecessors. The shore-line surveyed on the eastern side, a 

 portion of which is new discovery, equals about 600 miles, and on 

 the western side, between Clarence Head on the south and Cape 

 Union on the north, about 1,300 miles. It was with regret that I 

 turned my back upon the scene of our year's labors, and entered 

 Melville bay. After boring through the "pack" for 150 miles, we 

 entered the southern water, and reached Upernavik on the 14th of 

 August, and Disco island September 1. At both these places we 

 were kindly and hospitably received by the Danish officials. At the 

 latter place I had the satisfaction to meet the royal inspector, Mr. 

 Olrik. Upon reaching Godhavn, I was kindly informed by Inspector 

 Olrik that he had received orders from his government, framed in 

 accordance with . a request made by the government of the United 

 States, directing him to afford such aid to the expedition as was in his 

 power; and it gives me great pleasure to be able, on an occasion like 

 the present, to acknowledge the important services rendered to the 

 expedition by the Danish government and its officials in Greenland, 

 exhibiting that characteristic generosity and intelligent appreciation 

 which have uniformly marked their actions towards all previous ex- 

 plorations of a similar nature. 



Our voyage from Godhavn southward was very stormy, and when 

 off Halifax such damages were suffered as required us to put into 

 that port for repairs. Our welcome there was very cordial and highly 

 grateful to us. The admiral of her Britannic Majesty's fleet, then in 

 Halifax harbor, generously tendered the use of the government con- 

 veniences for repairing my crippled vessel. To' the officers of her 

 Majesty's civil government, and of the squadron and garrison, and to 

 the citizens of Halifax, the expedition is indebted for attentions which 

 exhibited not less a friendly feeling for men who had for so long a time 

 been deprived of many of the comforts of civilization than respect for 

 the flag under which our explorations had been made. 



Having sailed from Boston, I considered that a proper respect for 

 those who gave me the vessel required that I should return to that 

 port. Leaving Halifax on the 19th of October, we arrived in Boston 

 on the 23d, after an absence of fifteen months and thirteen days. 



