INTRODUCTION. 



Strait and Cape York, numbering in all about eighty souls, Avho built snow-houses 

 in the vicinity of the vessel, and maintained themselves by hunting the walrus 

 and seal. 



They sailed from the Avinter harbor on the 14th of July, and after much difficulty 

 reached the west coast ten miles below Cape Isabella, and from an elevation of about 

 six hundred feet Dr. Hayes obtained a view to the northward. In that direction 

 the ice was everywhere unbroken, and as it did not appear probable that he could 

 obtain for the schooner another harbor farther north, and as only five dogs remained 

 without means of obtaining a new supply, he was reluctantly obliged to abandon 

 the field, and direct his course homeward, trusting to be able at an early day to 

 renew the exploration with a small steamer and under other more favorable 

 conditions. 



Entering Whale Sound, an excellent opportunity was presented for delineating 

 the shore-line of that inlet ; through a clear atmosphere the land from the north 

 around to the south could be traced, thus proving the inlet to be a deep gulf which, 

 in honor of the discoverer, was named the Gulf of Inglefield. Leaving Whale 

 Sound and proceeding southerly, the survey was complete of north Baffin's Bay from 

 Cape Alexander to Granville Bay. After laboriously working the way through 

 " pack ice" for one hundred and fifty miles they entered the southern waters, and 

 reached Upernavik on the 14th of August, and Disco Island on the 31st of August, 

 being at both places kindly and hospitably received by the Danish officials. 



At Godhaven they were informed by Inspector Olrik that he had received orders 

 from his government to afford such aid to the expedition as was in his power, thus 

 exhibiting that characteristic generosity and intelligent appreciation of science 

 Avhich marked its action towards all previous expeditions of a similar character. 



Leaving Greenland they arrived in Boston, after a stormy passage, on the 23d 

 of October, having been absent 15 months and 13 days. 



During the whole cruise effort was constantly made to obtain specimens of 

 geology and natural history, and though the party was small, valuable collections 

 were obtained, embracing dredgings, plants, birds, and a large number of skuUs 

 of Esquimaux. 



On the return of the expedition the records of the observations, excepting those 

 relating to natural history, were given in charge to the Institution for reduction, 

 discussion, and subsequent publication. They were placed in the hands of Mr. 

 Chas. A. Schott, of the U. S. Coast Survey, and have been prepared by him for the 

 press at the expense of the Smithsonian fund. 



The foregoing sketch has been taken principally from the report of the lectures 

 given by Dr. Hayes before the Institution in 1861. He has since, however, pub- 

 lished a narrative in full, from which a minute account can be obtained of all the 

 events of the expedition. 



JOSEPH HENRY, 



Secretary S. I. 



Smithsonian Institution. 



