Voyage of Discovery to the Arctic Regions. 188 
beyond the Arctic Circle. He took also this opportunity of inform- 
ing them, how highly satisfied he was with their past conduct, and 
that he had no doubt, by continuing the same zeal and perseverance 
they have hitherto shewn, but that we shall ultimately accomplish 
the object of the expedition, and by that means not only become 
entitled to the whole of the pecuniary reward, but to the much 
more lasting honour of being the first discoverers of the North-West 
Passage, — an honour indeed which our most illustrious navigators 
for centuries back sought for in vain. The enthusiasm excited by 
this short but pathetic speech was truly astonishing ; for the ardour 
that it inspired might be seen in every countenance. * * * *' I 
think it may be considered a remarkable instance in our voyage, 
that the first anchor we let go since we left England, was in the 
110th degree of West Longitude .” — Fishers Journal , p. 115. 
The expedition advanced to the westward from the 6th to the 
18th September, a little beyond Cape Providence *, experiencing 
very considerable difficulties from the heaviness of the drifting 
ice, which appeared to be coming from higher latitudes. It was 
now packed close in with the land ; the ships were regularly be- 
set in the bay ice on the morning of the 18th, and as the seve- 
rity of the season was rapidly increasing, Captain Parry had no 
other alternative, but either to return to some secure harbour to 
the eastward, or to remain fixed during the winter, upon an ex- 
posed coast, without a bay or a headland to afford him the 
smallest shelter. He therefore availed himself of a fine breeze, 
and returned to Winter Harbour on the 24th, after experien- 
cing very serious obstructions from the driving floes, one of which 
forced the Griper aground on the beach. 
The mouth of Winter Harbour is partly guarded from the 
violence of the sea by a reef of rocks, over which there is in 
* This Cape received its name out of gratitude to Providence for the recovery 
of a party from the Griper, that was nearly lost on Melville Island. Seven men 
had set out on the 11th to surprise some rein-deer and musk-oxen. Having lost 
their way a few hours after leaving the ship, they wandered about without any ob- 
ject to guide them, till, on the 12th, they descried a large flag-staff, which Cap- 
tain Parry had erected as a beacon to direct them. Four of the party made for the 
flag-staff, and the other three, mistaking it for a smaller one erected before, walked 
in the opposite direction. The first party halted all night in a hut of stones and 
turf, kindled a little fire to warm themselves, with gunpowder and moss, and subsist- 
ed on raw grouse. The other party arrived at 10 P. M., on the 13th, after an ab- 
sence of ninety-one hours, exhausted with cold and fatigue, and frost-bitten in 
their toes and fingers. The ‘means which were taken by Captain Parry in behalf 
of these unfortunate individuals, reflect the highest credit upon his sagacity as 
well as his humanity. 
