INTRODUCTION. 15 



striking, even to landsmen. Sucli strong beams 'tween 

 decks are seldom seen in vessels of 400 tons. They are 

 only to be found in large barques and full-rigged sliips. 

 The knees were alternately of wood and iron ; vertical 

 supports above and below the middle deck protected it, 

 together with bands of the strongest iron clamps, from any 

 side pressure of masses of ice against the ship's sides, so 

 that neither keel or deck could be displaced. The sharp 

 build of the ship would rather have the effect of raising her 

 on to the ice, than of allowing her to be nipped by it. 



The compact machinery was mounted, and the axis 

 tested in position; the double-flanged screw could be 

 lifted in and out without trouble. A reserve screw was 

 also taken. As the ship was to be completely fitted 

 with sails, the machinery was only to be used amongst 

 the ice, or when she was obliged to beat against the wind. 



The masts furnished were of that sort that no pressure 

 on the sails nor heavy shock could dismast her. A 

 topsail on the foremast rendered veering and backing easy, 

 and her depth in the water was from nine to ten feet. 

 As the ship's course would lie along the eastern coast 

 of Greenland, between the land and the not far distant 

 ice-pack, a deeper draught would have been dan- 

 gerous ; neither could she have been much larger, for 

 a larger vessel must have been flat-bottomed, to prevent 

 her drawing too much water. This was satisfactorily 

 proved on the voyage. Flat-bottomed vessels are 

 very dangerous amongst the ice. Certainly the ship 

 would have turned more easily, if she had been two 

 feet broader ; but her capability of threading the narrow 

 channels between the ice would have been weakened in 

 con'esponding degree. 



