PKEFACE. xiii 



living among the Esquimaux, we had every rea- 

 son to expect, tliat if the ships were discovered, the 

 scientific documents of the voyage, including valu- 

 able magnetic observations, would be recovered. 



In the absence of such good fortune we may, 

 however, well be gladdened by the discovery of 

 that one precious document which gives us a 

 true outline of the voyage of the ' Erebus ' and 

 ' Terror.' 



That the reader may comprehend the vast 

 extent of sea traversed by Franklin in the two 

 summers before his ships were beset, a small 

 map (No. 2) is here introduced representing all 

 the lands and seas of the Arctic regions to the 

 west of Lancaster Sound which were known 

 and laid down when he sailed. The dotted 

 lines and arrows, which extend from the then 

 known seas and lands into the unknown waters 

 or blank spaces on this old map indicate 

 Franklin's route, the novelty, range, rapidity, 

 and boldness of which, as thus delineated, may 

 well surprise the geographer, and even the most 

 enterprising Arctic sailor.* For, those who 



* The letter A in Baffin Bay (fig. 1) indicates the spot where 

 Franklin was last seen. In fig. 2, B is the winter rendezvous at 

 Beechey Island ; C, the greatest northing of the expedition, viz. 

 77° N. lat. ; Z, the final beset of the ' Erebus ' and ' Terror ;' 

 the extreme north and south points of their voyage being repre- 

 sented by two small ships. 



