Cnpl. Parry's Voyage of Discovery. 385 



ward, and succeeded in getting along the coast of Melville Island 

 to some distance; hut there being no hope of penetrating further 

 at that season, and the ice setting in very rapidly, he was induced 

 to return to Hecla and Griper Bay, wiiich he regained on the 

 2-JtI) of September- It was now necessary to cut a canal through 

 the ice, and to draw the ships up it into the harbour. Two paral- 

 lel lines were cut, distant from each otlier little more than the 

 breadth of the large ships, and the ice then divided into rectan- 

 gular pieces, which were again subdivided diagonally, and floated 

 out of the canal. It was afterwards found necessary to sink the 

 pieces of ice under the floe as they were cut. At three o'clock 

 of the third day spent in these operations, the vessels reached 

 their winter quarters, an event which was hailed with three hearty- 

 cheers by the united ships' crews. The group of islands that 

 were discovered were called The North Georgian Islands. 



The ships had now reached that station, where, in all pro- 

 bability, they were destined to remain for at least eight months, 

 during three of which they were not to see the face of the sun. 

 Every precaution was immediately taken for the security of the 

 ships and the preservation of the various stores ; the masts were 

 dismantled, except the lower ones, and the planks of the housing 

 erected, and afterwards roofed over with a cloth composed of 

 wadding tilt. The crews of both vessels were in excellent health, 

 which great care was still taken to preserve, by keeping the births 

 and bed places as warm and dry as possible. The allowance of 

 bread was reduced to two thirds ; a pound of Donkin's preserved 

 meat, together with one pint of vegetable or concentrated soup, 

 per man, was substituted for a pound of salt beef weekly ; a pro- 

 portion of baer and wine was served instead of spirits; and a 

 small quantity of sour krout and pickles, with as much vinegar as 

 could be used, was issued at regular intervals. The daily pro- 

 portion of lime juice and sugar, mixed with water, vvas drunk by 

 each man, in presence of an officer appointed to attend to this 

 duty. When any game was procured, it was served in lieu of the 

 established allowance of meat; and in no one instance, either 

 ill quantity or quality, was the slightest preference given to the 

 officers. 



In regard to clothing, equal attention was paid to the comfort 

 of every individual on board ; and, now being in a state of lei- 

 sure and inactivity, Capt. Parry projected the amusements of a 

 theatre, of which Lieut. Beechey was stage manager ; and a 

 weekly newspaper, to be called " Tiie North Georgia Gazette and 

 Winter Chronicle," of which Capt. Sabine undertook to be the 

 editor. These had the happy effect of diverting the mind from 

 the gloomy prospect which would sometimes obtrude itself on the 

 stoutest heart. 



Vol. bl. No. 277. May 1821. 30 Some 



