PARRY'S EXPEDITION (1827) 9 



writes : " It had, for some time past, been too evident 

 that the nature of the ice with which we had to contend 

 was such, and its drift to the southward, especially with 

 a northerly wind, so great, as to put beyond our reach 

 anything but a very moderate share of success in travelling 

 to the northward. Still, however, we had been anxious 

 to reach the highest latitude which our means would 

 allow, and, with this view, although our whole object 

 had long become unattainable, had pushed on to the 

 northward for thirty-five days, or until half our resources 

 were expended, and the middle of our season arrived. 

 For the last few days, the 83rd parallel was the limit to 

 which we had ventured to extend our hopes ; but even 

 this expectation had become considerably weakened since 

 the setting in of the last northerly wind, which continued 

 to drive us to the southward, during the necessary hours 

 of rest, nearly as much as we could gain by eleven or 

 twelve hours of daily labour. Had our success been at 

 all proportionate to our exertions, it was my full intention 

 to have proceeded a few days beyond the middle of the 

 period for which we were provided, trusting to the re- 

 sources we expected to find at Table Island. But this 

 was so far from being the case, that I could not but con- 

 sider it as incurring; useless fatigue to the officers and 

 men, and unnecessary wear and tear for the boats, to 

 persevere any longer in the attempt. I determined, there- 

 fore, on giving the people one entire day's rest, which they 

 very much needed, and time to wash and mend their 

 clothes, while the officers were occupied in making all 

 the observations which might be interesting in this 

 latitude ; and then to set out on our return on the 

 following day." 



The bottom was found here with 500 fathoms of line. 

 At the extreme point of the journey the distance from 

 the Hecla was 172 miles. To accomplish this distance, 



