BOATS FOR THE JOURNEY. 
305 
on his voyage over the ice. The boats, constructed of 
the lightest materials, will be drawn by a herd of forty 
reindeer. 
The boats deserved much attention. They were 
three in number, built specially for the occasion they 
were to serve. They were light and exceedingly strong, 
double in structure : one portion was made of the fine 
wood of the willow, the second layer of ash. The largest 
weighed 320 lbs., and could carry 2800 lbs. of goods 
stowed; the second weighed 100 lbs. less, and carried 
1000 lbs. less goods ; while the third was only 130 lbs. 
in weight, and could contain about 1500 lbs. weight 
in stowage. The deer were to bring with them sufficient 
provender for an extended march, and on showing signs 
of exhaustion, they were to be killed-for food for 
the travellers. The journey was to be commenced 
on the first of April, 1873, and the provisions were 
sufficient to last until the first of July, by which time 
they hope to have accomplished this long meditated 
journey to the northern Pole of the earth. 
It will be remembered that Captain Parry, in the 
year 1827, started late in the season, when he found 
the ice broken up and loose, drifting by the influence 
of the currents and the gales of wind. They hope to 
find a different condition altogether. When they start 
they expect that at that early season the ice will be 
