ARCTIC VOYAGES, FROM BAFFIN TO M'CLINTOCK. 



349 



off Repulse Bay, and thence to cross Melville Peninsula, and proceed overland 

 to Point Turnagain, where Franklin's journey ended. But a succession of 

 dreadful storms so crippled the " Griper," while endeavoring to proceed on- 

 ward up Rowe's Welcome, that it became necessary to return at once to Eng- 

 land. 



Such was the esteem and affection Parry had acquired among the compan- 

 ions of his two former voyages, that when he took the command of a third ex- 

 pedition, with the intention of seeking a passage through Prince Regent's In- 

 let, they all volunteered to accompany him. From the middle of J uly till nearly 

 the middle of September (1824), the "Hecla" and the "Fury" had to contend 

 with the enromous ice-masses of Baffin's Bay, which would infallibly have 

 crushed vessels less stoutly ribbed; and thus it was not before September 10 

 that they entered Lancaster Sound, which they found clear of ice, except here 

 and there a solitary berg. But new ice now began to form, which, increasing 

 daily in thickness, beset the ship, and carried them once more back again into 

 Baffin's Bay. By perseverance, however, and the aid of a strong easterly breeze, 

 Parry regained the lost ground, and on September 27 reached the entrance of 

 Port Bowen, on the eastern shore of Prince Regent's Inlet, where he passed the 

 winter. By July 19 the vessels were again free, and Parry now sailed across 

 the inlet to examine the coast of !N"orth Somerset ; but the floating ice so in- 

 jured the " Fury " that it was found necessary to abandon her. Her crew and 

 valuables were therefore received on board the " Hecla ;" the provisions, stores, 

 and boats were landed, and safely housed on Fury Point, off North Somerset, 

 for the relief of any wandering Esquimaux, or future Arctic explorers who 

 might chance to visit the spot, and the crippled ship was given up to the mercy 

 of the relentless ice, while her companion made the best of her way to Eng- 

 land. 



In spite of the dreadful sufferings of Franklin, Richardson, and Back during 

 their first land journey, we find these heroes once more setting forth in 1825, 

 determined to resume the survey of the Arctic coasts of the American conti- 

 nent. A far more adequate preparation was made for the necessities of their 

 journey than before ; and before they settled down for the winter at " Fort 

 Franklin," on the shores of Great Bear Lake, a journey of investigation down 

 the Mackenzie River to the sea had been brought to a successful end. As soon 

 as the ice broke in the following summer, they set out in four boats, and sepa- 

 rated at the point where the river divides into two main branches. Franklin and 

 Back proposing to survey the coast-line to the westward, while Richardson set 

 out in an easterly direction to the mouth of the Coppermine River. Franklin 

 arrived at the mouth of the Mackenzie on July 7, where a large tribe of Esqui- 

 maux pillaged his boats, and it was only by great prudence and forbearance 

 that the whole party were not massacred. A full month was now spent in the 

 tedious survey of 374 miles of coast, as far as Return Reef, more than 1000 miles 

 distant from their winter-quarters on great Bear Lake. The return journey 

 to Fort Franklin was safely accomplished, and they arrived at their house on 

 September 21, where they had the pleasure of finding Dr. Richardson and Lieu- 

 tenant Kendall, who, on their part, had reached the Coppermine, thus connect- 



