LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS 
253 
she inhabits the shores of the Tiber, or the icy region of Felix 
Harbour ; for the most certain method of incurring her hatred and 
displeasure, is to reject her advances and to treat the offer of her 
favors with contempt. On the other hand, where is the woman 
who is indifferent to praise, and who does not rise some degrees 
in her own estimation, when she sees that a particular degree 
of attention is paid to her, in comparison to that which is paid 
to her compeers, and on this occasion, there was one who was 
gifted with youth and beauty, (and let not the angel beauties of 
England rumple their noses, when the beauty of an Esquimaux 
girl is spoken of, for so imperceptible is the transition from ugli¬ 
ness to beauty, that it is impossible to say where the one ends, or 
the other begins,) and to this exquisite of her race the sailors 
bestowed all their attentions, leaving the more aged and the 
ugly “ to w'aste their sweetness on the desert air.” 
It may appear invidious to institute a comparison between the 
line of conduct pursued by Capt. Parry on board the Hecla, 
and that, which was followed by Capt. Ross on board the Vic¬ 
tory, respecting the amusements which were provided for the 
respective crews, and on which indeed it may be said that the 
health of the men in some degree depended. A certain extent 
of discipline is requisite and indispensable, for in default of it, 
it is impossible that the duty of the ship can be properly per¬ 
formed, but there are circumstances when the judgement of the 
commander should be called into action, with the view of 
determining whether some relaxation cannot be allowed to take 
place in the established discipline, and certainly on no occasion 
would that relaxation have been more advisable or more laud¬ 
able, than during the tedious and depressing imprisonment of 
the Victory in Felix Harbour. A darkness of three months, 
exposed to all the rigor of the most inclement climate, rendered 
it of the utmost importance that constant employment and a 
habit of cheerfulness should be kept up amongst men so situated, it 
being well known, in addition to many recommendatory circum¬ 
stances, that there exists an intimate connexion between de¬ 
pression of mind, and that dreadful disease, the scurvy; that 
hope and joy not only prevent, but materially aid in the cure of 
