IN SEAECH OF THE EIRA. 139 



right time at the exact spot where she was required, 

 to pick up Mr Leigh Smith's boats on their emer- 

 gence from the ice after their arduous and adventurous 

 voyage of forty-one days amongst the floes. That an 

 element of good fortune much assisted the relief 

 expedition, no one can deny ; but luck is a factor 

 of the utmost importance in all polar expeditions, and 

 he who best knows how to utilise his good luck and 

 to neutralise his bad luck, possesses perhaps some of 

 the most valuable qualities which go to make a suc- 

 cessful Arctic navigator. 



The Eira was specially built at Peterhead for Mr 

 Leigh Smith, and was a steam- vessel of 350 tons 

 burden, strengthened and otherwise fitted for voy- 

 aging in the Arctic seas. Mr Leigh Smith made 

 in her a very successful summer voyage in 1880, 

 during which he made important and interesting dis- 

 coveries upon the coasts of Franz Josef Land and 

 Spitzbergen. 



Mr Leigh Smith sailed upon his second voyage in 

 the Eira on the 13th June 1881, taking with him 

 Dr Neale as surgeon, Mr Lofty as ice-master, and a 

 crew of twenty-two men. He was provisioned for 

 fourteen months, with further supplies of bread and 

 flour enough to last two years. 



To quote the words of the letter addressed by Mi- 

 Valentine Smith to the President of ihe Eoyal 

 Geographical Society " The explorer's intention is 

 believed to have been to visit Franz Josef Land a 



