io THE SIEGE OF THE NORTH POLE 



Parry reckoned they travelled 292 miles, of which about 

 100 were performed by water previous to entering the 

 ice. But as they travelled by far the greater part of 

 the distance on the ice three, and not unfrequently five 

 times over, the total distance estimated was 580 geo- 

 graphical, or 668 statute miles, being nearly sufficient to 

 have reached the Pole in a direct line. 



Returning south, open water was reached in latitude 

 81° 34', about 50 miles north of Table Island. The 

 party had been forty-eight days on the ice. During this 

 journey several seals and bears were killed, and these 

 assisted very much both for meat and fuel. The islet at 

 Table Island was reached on the 12th of August, and it was 

 found that bears had devoured all the bread, amounting 

 to 100 lb., left there. To this islet Parry applied the 

 name of Lieutenant Ross. The Hecla was reached on 

 21st August, after an absence of sixty-one days, and the 

 total distance travelled was estimated at 1127 miles. 

 Parry writes : " Considering our constant exposure to 

 wet, cold, and fatigue, our stockings having generally 

 been drenched in snow-water for twelve hours out of 

 every twenty-four, I had great reason to be thankful for 

 the excellent health in which, upon the whole, we reached 

 the ship. There is no doubt that we had all become, 

 in a certain degree, gradually weaker for some time past ; 

 but only three men of our party now required medical 

 care, two of them with badly swelled legs and general 

 debility, and the other from a bruise ; but even these 

 three returned to their duty in a short time. 11 



The Hecla left Treurenburg Bay on 28th August, 

 rounded Hakluyfs Headland on the 30th, and arrived at 

 Shetland on 17th September. Here Parry left the ship, 

 and proceeded to London via Inverness. 



Having finished his narrative of this attempt to reach 

 the North Pole, Parry makes the following observations : — 



