388 Return of the Discovery Ships. 



the expedition at that Island. A white hare was the only small 

 animal which was met with. It was found upon another island. 

 Partridges were seen in great numbers, and the newly discovered 

 islands also abounded with florescent plants of different unknown 

 species. The huts, of which some vestiges remain, are pre- 

 sumed to' have belonged to some Esquimaux, whom chance or 

 enterprise may have carried into these inhospital)le regions. 

 Numerous dresses, canoes, &c. &c. have also been brought over 

 from Baffin's Bay, which are constructed with astonishing natural 

 genius, industry, and neatness. 



We mentioned the only serious casualty which befell during 

 the winlering of the crews in these high latitudes. Nevertheless 

 the cold was so intense, that the utmost care vvas necessary to 

 prevent fatal consequences. An idea of this may be formed from 

 the fact, that a servant of Captain Sabine's, on some idarm of 

 fire, ran into the air without covering his hand — it was imme- 

 diately frost-bitten, and the poor Jellovv lost three of his fingers. 

 No natives were seen, nor any traces of human beings. 



Notwithstanding attempts made to decry the value of the 

 discoveries that are accomplished or contemplated, much com- 

 mercial benefit has alreadv resulted from the navigation of those 

 trackless seas. The confidence acquired by the experience of 

 Capt. Parry, has this year induced the whalers, who had been 

 intimidated at the horrors of the higher regions, to venture, as vvas 

 suggested, to the mouth of Lancaster Sound ; and the conse- 

 quence has been, that they have returned with fuller cargoes than 

 were ever known. In fact, the expenses incurred by the voyages 

 of Capt. Ross and Lieut, (now made master and commander) 

 Parry have already been more than repaid to the nation by the 

 full cargoes of the whalers, and tiie certainty obtained, that they 

 may navigate Lancaster Sound with safety, and always bring 

 home full cargoes. 



Perhajjs the most surprising and curious information derived 

 from these voyages, is the force of vegetation during the short 

 vegetative season in tlie northern latitudes ; of which the botanic 

 specimens brought home in the Hecla, and tlic experiments made 

 on the New Georgia Islands, with several of our common gar- 

 den seeds, afford most striking proofs. — Besides their winter 

 amusements of hunting, &c., the officers of the Hecla invented 

 also some of an intellectual nature. We believe we before no- 

 ticed they performed plays, to wliich we might add that they 

 were their own dramatists. The New Georgia Gazette, or 

 Winter Chronicle, of one of the offi(, rs, contains some very fair 

 jeux-d'esprits, for which the mistakes of some preceding naviga- 

 tors atforded abundant scope. We have been informed, but vve 

 know not how correctly, that the aurora lorealis was, with our 



voyagers^ 



