2 THE SIEGE OF THE NORTH POLE 



or hummock, that I imagine, had it been free from snow, 

 a coach might have been driven many leagues over it in 

 a direct line, without obstruction or danger." In addition 

 to these, experienced whalers, whom Parry consulted as 

 to the nature of the ice, agreed that it was highly 

 favourable for the purpose of his expedition. An im- 

 portant factor in determining Parry to make the proposal 

 was the fact that Franklin had drawn up a plan for 

 making the attempt on the same lines. 



For the journey over the ice, two boats were constructed 

 having great flatness of floor, with the extreme breadth 

 carried well forward and aft, and possessing the utmost 

 buoyancy, as well as capacity for stowage. Their length 

 was 20 feet, and their extreme breadth 7 feet. The 

 timbers were made of tough ash and hickory, 1 inch 

 by half an inch square, and a foot apart, with a 

 " half-timber " of smaller size between each two. On the 

 outside of the frame thus formed was laid a covering of 

 Mackintosh's waterproof canvas, the outer part being 

 coated with tar. Over this was placed a plank of fir, 

 T 3 F of an inch thick ; then a sheet of stout felt ; and over 

 all, an oak plank of the same thickness as the fir; the 

 whole of these being firmly and closely secured to the 

 timbers by iron screws applied from without. " On each 

 side of the keel, and projecting considerably below it, 

 was attached a strong ' runner ' shod with smooth steel, 

 in the manner of a sledge, upon which the boat entirely 

 rested while upon the ice ; and to afford some additional 

 chance of making progress on hard and level fields, we 

 also applied to each boat two wheels, of 5 feet diameter, 

 and a small one abaft, having a swivel for steering by, 

 like that of a Bath chair ; but these, owing to the irregu- 

 larities of the ice, did not prove of any service, and were 

 subsequently relinquished. A ' span ' of hide-rope was 

 attached to the fore part of the runners, and to this 



