22 OFF THE ENTRANCE 



1824. -jj ^jj|g desolate country, I might not have 

 August, reached her until she was again frozen in, 

 and two years and a half would then have 

 been her shortest stay ; in which case it was 

 indispensably requisite that provisions for 

 that time should be carried out, and these it 

 was that now so much incommoded us. On 

 the Griper's former expedition with Captain 

 Parry, she was only able to carry one year s 

 provisions, and was supplied from the Hecla 

 at the expiration of that time ; and on her 

 recent voyage with Captain Clavering, up a 

 wide and open sea, she only carried an eighteen 

 months' supply, as it was not intended she 

 should winter in the country. 



The difference in the quantity of stores 

 may therefore account, in some degree, for the 

 ship's being so hampered ; and I have tres- 

 passed thus far on the patience of my readers 

 in consequence of an idea which has been 

 adopted by some persons, unacquainted with 

 naval affairs, that I had uselessly lumbered 

 my ship; when, in fact, had I succeeded in 

 reaching Repulse Bay Avith less stores than I 

 now carried, certain starvation would have 

 attended us all, if we were detained, as might 

 have happened, a second winter. It may also 



