4 INTRODUCTION. 
very good, and nothing was neglected to 
render them fit for the service on which they 
were to be employed. They were strength- 
ened in every way, as much as wood and iron 
could strengthen them, having, in the first 
place, the whole of their outside, from the 
keel to some distance above the water-line, 
covered with an extra lining of oak-plank, 
from three to four inches thick, and, within, 
a number of additional beams, and other 
timbers, put into their hold, in order that 
they might withstand the pressure of the ice, 
in the event of their being caught between 
two floes of it. Their bows were also covered 
with strong plates of iron, to defend them 
from receiving damage by striking against 
the floating ice. They were likewise fitted 
up, inside, so as to make the accommodations 
of both officers and men as comfortable as 
the size of the vessels would admit. To guard, 
as much as possible, against the rigour of the 
climate, we were also provided with standing 
bed-places, which were deemed to be warmer 
than cots, or hammocks; and, in the event of 
our not effecting the passage, we were pro- 
vided with planks, tarpaulins, and Russian- 
mats, for housing the ships during the winter, 
so as to be able to take exercise on deck in 
bad weather. The men, as on the former 
