196 



THE SEA. 



of course, is Franklin's ; but these were the general sentiments expressed in their tongue. 

 It was received with shouts of applause; and a little later they pleaded that having seen 

 so many fine things new to them they could not resist the temptation of stealing. They 

 promised better behaviour, and, what is more to the point, restored the articles which they 

 had purloined. Thus, what might have proved a serious affray was prevented. The- 

 Esquimaux, like all unsophisticated natives, are, or were then, mere children, but children 

 capable of doing much harm. 



Franklin traced the coast in a westerly direction to latitude 70 21' N., longitude, 

 149 37' TV., and discovered several large rivers. Fogs, gales, rain, and drift ice intcr- 



ESQUIMAVX KAIYACKS AX1> OAT. 



rupted their progress, but they were enabled to examine close on 400 miles of a new coast. 

 Dr. Richardson meantime traced the coast eastward from the Mackenzie to the Copper- 

 mine River, afterwards travelling by land and river to Fort Franklin. Thanks to the 

 excellent arrangements made, his party endured no great privations, and this second 

 series of journeys to the Polar Sea formed a pleasant sequel to the first, which were 

 marked by so many disasters. 



CHAPTER XXI. 



VOYAGE OF THE "TERROR." 



Back's effort to reach Repulse Bay Nine Months in the Ice The Terror Xipped and Crushed A General Disruption 

 Extreme Peril Increase of Pressure Providential Delivery Another Nip Bow of the Ship split Preparations 

 for Emergencies The Crew An early break-up Frozen again A Tremendous Rush of Ice The Day of Release. 



CAPTAIN BACK was in 1836 appointed to the command of an expedition to the Arctic, 

 partly formed for purposes of survey. He was instructed to proceed to Repulse or 

 Wager Bay, as the case might be ; thence he was to take a party across the inter- 

 vening laud to the eastern shore of Prince Regent's Islet. Among other explorations 



