North Polar Exploration. 345 



the whole fleet of whalers got through early in July. It must 

 be remembered that the whalers do not persevere after the 

 middle of July, while there will be time for a discovery ship to 

 reach Smith Sound, even if she does not get through, before 

 the end of August. It may be counted upon with certainty 

 that two screw- steamers of 60-horse power will get through 

 the middle pack (on an average) in about twenty-two days, 

 if they start early in the season, and that they will reach 

 the "North Water." The "North Water" means Smith 

 Sound, for it always extends to the entrance of that great 

 opening whence Captain Inglefield in 1852 saw open water to 

 the northern horizon, stretching through seven points of the 

 compass. 



The two gun-boats would winter about 300 miles apart, 

 one near Cape Isabella and the other near Cape Parry, both 

 on the weather or western side of Smith Sound. The march 

 to explore the Polar region would commence in February, 

 along the coast which stretches to the northward. The ice is 

 always firm, and fit for travelling near the shore, from February 

 to May ; and this circumstance led Wrangell to advocate the 

 Smith Sound route, for he well knew that his Polynias, or 

 open lanes of water, were not encountered until he advanced a 

 considerable distance from the coast. The distance from Cape 

 Parry to the Pole and back is under 1000 miles; so that a 

 party going to the North Pole, and travelling at the rate of 

 about ten miles a day, would be back by the middle of May. 

 Mr. Arrowsmith places Cape Parry in 81° 56' 1ST., or 484 miles 

 from the Pole ; and Dr. Kane's steward saw land stretching 

 away to the north as far as the eye could reach. Give us 

 only 184 miles of land north of Cape Parry, and a sledge 

 journey to the Pole is a matter of calculation* if performed 

 during the winter and early spring. The discovery of the 

 North Pole by this route does not depend upon a drifting, 

 treacherous pack, upon the opening or closing of leads through 

 the ice in the right direction, or upon a theoretical Polar 

 basin, as is the case in the Spitzbergen seas. By the Smith 

 Sound route the discovery is a certainty, so far as human 

 calculation can make it so. Sir Leopold M'Clintock has 

 brought the art of sledge travelling to such perfection, that 

 this may be affirmed with perfect truth. Much has been said, by 

 objectors to this route, about the impossibility of dragging heavy 

 boats over the ice. All who are acquainted with M'Clintock's 



* A sledge party, commanded by M'Clintock, has walked 1220 miles in 105 

 days ; on another occasion, 1330 miles. Mecham did 1203 miles, Richards 1093, 

 Osborn the same. Alien Young 1150, and Hamilton 1150. Sir Leopold 

 M'Clintock says that a single sledge may carry sixty days' provisions, and go 

 oyer 600 miles of ground, without assistance from depots. 



