170 THE SEA. 



employed, and the expedition left the river on May llth, reaching Davis's Strait at 

 the end of June, where icebergs of large size and in great numbers were encountered. 

 Fifty or sixty per diem was not an unusual allowance, and Parry counted eighty-eight 

 large ones from the crow's nest on one occasion, besides a profusion of smaller ones. 

 Some most important explorations in Sir James Lancaster's Sound were made, and the 

 land which Ross had supposed extended across the bottom of this inlet was found to 

 be open water. The expedition sailed across the site of the Croker Mountains, as has 

 been before mentioned. Barrow's Strait, Wellington Channel, Melville Island, and many 

 others, Avere first discovered and named on this voyage. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



PARRY'S EXPEDITIONS (continued}. 



Five Thousand Pounds earned by Parry's Expedition Winter Quarters Theatre An Arctic Newspaper Effects of 

 Intense Cold The Observatory Burned down Return to England Parry's Second Expedition " Young " Ice 

 Winter at Lyon's Inlet A Snow Village in Winter and Spring Break-up of the Ice The Vessels in a 

 Terrible Position Third Winter Quarters Parry's Fourth Winter The Fury Abandoned The Old Griper and her 

 Noble Crew. 



A VERY important event at least, so far as concerned the members of Parry's expedition 

 was that which occurred on September 4th, 1819. On that day the commander had 

 the satisfaction of announcing to officers and crew that they had crossed the meridian 

 of 110 W. from Greenwich, by which they had become entitled to the reward of 5,000 

 offered by the Government to " such of His Majesty's subjects as might succeed in 

 penetrating thus far to the westward within the Arctic circle." To a bluff headland 

 near this point the appropriate name of Cape Bounty was given. After many perils 

 in the ice, a secure harbour was selected for their winter quarters at Melville Island, 

 but before they could enter it a canal, two and one-third miles, had to be cut through 

 the ice. This feat was performed in three days by the united efforts of "all hands''' 

 from both vessels ; and as they would probably have to remain eight or nine months 

 in that spot, Parry began the arrangements for promoting the comfort and health of 

 his crews, the wisdom of which has often since been admitted and imitated by others, 

 but which were not very commonly understood then. Parry, however, has hardly had 

 a superior in these matters since. The vessels were well housed in, and all that was 

 possible done for warming and ventilating the decks and cabins. An anti-scorbutic beer 

 was brewed, and issued in lieu of spirits. Some difficulty was experienced in the very 

 cold weather in making it ferment sufficiently to become palatable. A theatre was 

 organised on board the Hecla, in the arrangements for which Parry took a part himself, 

 " considering," says he, "that an example of cheerfulness, by giving a direct countenance 

 to everything that could contribute to it, was not the least essential part of my duty, under the 

 peculiar circumstances in which we were placed." A little weekly newspaper, The North 

 Georgia Gazette and Winter Chronicle, edited by the since illustrious Sabine, was organised, 

 and helped to employ many contributors, and divert their minds " from the gloomy prospect 

 which would sometimes obtrude itself on the stoutest heart." For this desolate spot was 



