CH. XXIII] 
Parry and his School 
219 
of tough oak and hickory. On the outside of the frame 
a new system of planking was adopted, in order to secure 
elasticity in the frequent concussions with the ice. It 
consisted first of a covering of waterproof canvas coated 
with tar, then a thin fir plank, then a sheet of felt, and 
lastly a thin oak plank, all secured to the timbers by 
screws. On each side of the keel there was a strong 
runner shod with metal, on which the boat rested when 
on the ice. A hide span across the fore part of the 
runners had two horsehair drag-ropes attached to it. 
The boats had two thwarts, a locker at each end, and 
a light framework along the sides for provisions and 
spare clothing ; they carried a bamboo mast and tanned 
duck sail, 14 paddles, and a steer oar. They started with 
71 days' provisions. The weight of each boat was 1539 lb., 
when loaded 3753 lb., or 268 lb. per man, besides four 
light sledges weighing 26 lb. each. The daily allowance 
for each man was 10 oz. of biscuit, 9 oz. of pemmican, 
1 oz. of cocoa, and a gill of rum. They slept in the boats 
and travelled at night. 
When they started the weather was calm and clear, 
and as they paddled past the Seven Islands with loose 
sailing ice ahead the prospect looked very favourable. 
But on the 23rd they came to the close pack and hauled 
the boats up on the ice in 8i° 12' 5" N. The travelling 
work then began and was most laborious and disheartening. 
The floes were of small extent intersected by high ridges 
of hummocks, necessitating constant launching and hauling 
up of the boats. The snow was soft, and there were 
pools of water knee-deep on the floes. It was not until 
July 7th that they reached a level floe, and on the nth 
ridges of hummocks 30 and 40 feet high were again en- 
countered. On the 22nd they at length came to large floes 
some miles in extent, but it was too late. The southerly 
drift of the ice was increasing to such an extent that they 
lost by drift as much as they gained by many hours of 
laborious and fatiguing work at the drag-ropes. Parry at 
length determined to retrace his steps. His highest 
latitude was 82 0 45', the highest that anyone attained 
for the next half-century. They were 172 miles from the 
Hecla, having travelled over 292 miles of ground — 200 by 
water before reaching the ice and 92 over the floes. 
