IN SEARCH OF THE EIEA, 



BY H. SWIRE, R.N. 



[MAGA. Nov. 1882.] 



FEW of those, perhaps, who have recently read 

 of the rescue of the crew of the Eira, and of 

 their safe return to their native land, after passing 

 a winter on the inhospitable shores of Franz Josef 

 Land, have considered what months of patient labour 

 and inquiry, directed by intelligent forethought and 

 practical Arctic experience, were requisite to set on 

 foot and carry to such a rapid and successful con- 

 clusion a search after the missing crew, such as that 

 recently undertaken by the steam- whaler Hope, under 

 the command of Sir Allen Young. 



With but vague knowledge of the intentions of Mr 

 Leigh Smith ; with but very meagre information of 

 his actual movements during the summer of 1881 ; 

 and with a vast area of polar sea and coast-line to 

 deal with over which the explorer might have taken 

 his vessel it is indeed a remarkable fact that the 

 relief ship should have been able to appear at the 



