186 Transfer of the Crew of the " Polaris." 



was a very fair substitute. As Captain Adams was 

 anxious to take some of the crew of the ' ' Polaris " 

 on board the ' ' Arctic/'' it was eventually arranged 

 that Dr. Bessels, Mr. Chester the first mate, Mr. 

 Schumann the engineer, and four men should come 

 with us, the others remaining on board the " Ravens- 

 craig." It was 6 a.m. before all arrangements were 



" Ravenscraig " off Cape York, and boat of " Polaris, 



concluded, and we bade farewell to the " Ravens- 

 craig," which vessel proceeded up the sound, whilst 

 we steamed out to the middle ice. 



The expedition of the " Polaris/' under the com- 

 mand of Charles Francis Hall, will always be 

 remarkable for having proved the navigability of 

 the strait leading from Smith Sound to the north. 

 At present the " Polaris " has reached a higher 



