Polar Explorations. 141 
near the “ hummocks,” and it was difficult to get a footing 
compensate for this delay”’ says Capt. Parry, “ it would have 
been the beautiful blne color of these superglacial lakes, 
which is one of the most pleasing tints in nature.” 
In defiance of every difficulty, they continued to push for- 
ward towards the north, but the quantity of rain which fell, 
ame more and more excessive, and finally, to their utter 
confusion, they discovered the set of the arctic waters south, 
drifting them faster from, than their exertions brought them 
nearer to the pole. On the 15th July, “the rain fell in tor- 
rents,” and the temperature was warmer than had been 
known in the arctic regions. The 26th of July, made thirty- 
five days since they began the journey ; a north wind accel- 
erated the drift to the south, and Capt. Parry determined to 
abandon the undertaking. They had reached the 82° 45’ 
N. latitude, and found they had made only one hundred and 
seventy-two miles, distant from the Hecla, in a north, 8° east 
direction. To accomplish this distance, they had travelled 
six hundred sixty-eight statute miles—nearly sufficient in a 
direct line to have reached the . eae 
The party had enjoyed good health up to this period, but 
it was visible to the officers that the strength of the men had 
to decline, their allowance of food being insufficient 
to support men, living constantly in the open air, exposed to 
wet and cold, and “ seldom enjoying the luxury of a warm 
meal.” 
Their return to the ship was more arduous than their out- 
- ward journey, but on the 11th of August, they began to hear 
“the swell of the sea under the hollow margin of the ice,” 
n 
been upon the ice forty-eight days. They first landed upon 
arocky islet the most northern jand known upon the globe, 
where they left some provisions on their outward journey. 
Leaving this, they were defeated by a storm in an attempt 
to land on Walden island,* where they ‘also left provisions, 
* Discovered by Com. Phipps, August 5th, 1773, N. lat. 80° 37’. 
