112 



HISTORY OF THE SEA. 



— but guided by the stars, and upheld by their own private 



resources and a spirit of adventure which no dangers could 

 repress, crossed the broad Northern ocean and explored these 

 distant lands." 



This is all true ; and doubtless our wonder at the success with 

 which these early voyages were prosecuted would be augmented K 

 tenfold, could we obtain authentic information upon the charac- 

 ter and capacity of the ships in which they were made. Nothing 

 reliable exists upon this subject, except a few rude inscriptions; 

 and from these, as reproduced in the engravings we have given, 

 it would actually appear that the vessels used had no decks, and 

 that they were partly propelled by oars. However navigation 

 may have improved since the days of the Northmen, it is certain 

 that no sailor would nOw attempt an Arctic voyage in an open 

 boat; and when we read of the perils and sufferings of our 

 modern Polar adventurers, it is impossible not to be amazed at 

 the success with which the Danes and Norwegians, with their 

 slender appliances, endured and outlived them. 



