THE GATE-WAY TO THE POLYNIA. 
197 
travelling, and had he been supplied with suitable 
appliances for the laborious journey he entered upon 
even at the close of the season; had he used light 
boats instead of the heavy ones provided in which his 
daring experiment was attempted; but no one could 
have succeeded in dragging two boats, each weighing 
3753 lbs., being heavily laden with stores, over such 
ice as he that year encountered, which, as he got to 
his farthest point north, he found to his dismay was 
drifting at the rate of fourteen miles each day to the 
southward, through the long lanes of water and open 
lakes. Had steam power been known in the days of 
Parry he would, no doubt, that season have gained the 
Pole by its assistance, and by this very route, which 
may be truly called “ The Gateway to the Polynia.” 
We have a light breeze on the 28th July, and the 
look-out man sights Molfen Island. Weary with the 
delays of beating to windward we leave the schooner, 
and, with a well-manned boat, we go in search of the 
land, hoping to meet with walrus on our way. A four 
miles pull brings us no immediate prospect of land. 
Mounting a hummock of ice which has a smoother sur¬ 
face than usual, we seek in vain for the land with our 
glasses. After another four miles pull we take another 
view, and this time see a low, flat, black-looking land 
in the distance. This must be the island we are in 
