38 ACCOUNT OF THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 



first mistake, was to get entangled among the ice 

 lying about Cape Farewell, where he had nearly lost 

 his vessel ; and his subsequent errors were also pro- 

 ductive of many distresses. It is strange, that any one 

 should have imagined, that unacquaintance with the 

 country intended to be explored, could be of advan- 

 tage to the voyager. The navigation of the Polar 

 seas, which is peculiar, requires in a particular man- 

 ner, an extensive knowledge of the nature, proper- 

 ties, and usual motions of the ice ; and it can only 

 be performed to the best advantage, by those who 

 have had long experience in working a ship in icy 

 situations. It may be remarked, in support of this 

 assertion, that all the great discoveries to the north 

 and west of Greenland, have been made by persons 

 well acquainted with the navigation of the arctic 

 seas. Baffin, when he discovered the bay bear- 

 ing his name, and boldly traversed it with only one 

 small bark, had been employed on three several 

 voyages of discovery before, as well as on one or 

 more voyages to the Spitzbergen whale-fishery. 

 Davis and Hudson also had each had experience 

 in the navigation of these seas, before they made 

 discoveries of any consequence ; Hudson, we know, 

 having been three voyages on discovery, and Davis 

 two, before they found the straits and bay which 

 are still called by their names*. 



* Want of experience in the navigation of icy seas, is the 

 only objection to Officers of the Royal Navy having the direc- 



