XXX 



Introduction. 



had been experienced hf American and English 

 expeditions which had had, on former occasions, 

 to winter in more southern latitudes. After the 

 death of Captain Hall, the men in this expedition 

 only thought of returning home, and were making 

 fair progress in that direction, when by an accident 

 in the autumn of 1872, a number of the crew were 

 swept away from the ship on an ice-field, which 

 eventually carried them down to the shores of 

 Labrador. They were saved by one of our sealers. 

 The remainder of the crew ran the ship on shore 

 at an Esquimaux settlement near the entrance of 

 Smith's Sound, abandoned her in the spring of 

 1873, with the intention of retreating in their boats 

 to the Danish settlements in Greenland, but were 

 picked up on their way by an English whaler and 

 so brought home. 



We have therefore, from their information, cer- 

 tain proof of the navigability for steamers of Smith's 

 Sound, of the facility with which a retreat can be 

 effected without loss of life, of considerable re- 

 sources existing there in animal life, of land lying 

 close to the Pole, and, from the tide and driftwood, 

 of a water communication across that great un- 

 known area. 



In an appendix attached to this volume will be 

 found an elaborate report, to which nearly every 

 scientific body in this country has given its adhe- 

 sion, on the great advantages to science which an 



