. Narrative of discovery and adventure in the polar seas and regions [microform] : with illustrations of their climate, geology, and natural history ; and an account of the whale-fishery. Natural history; Sciences naturelles. RECENT NORTH-WEST VOYAGES. 231 while, for the future, it was prevented by covering the eyes, or by wearing spectacles, in which crape was used instead of glass. On the 16th March the North Geor^"\ - Theatre was closed with an appropriate address, and the general attention was now turned to the means of extrication from the ice. By the l7th May the seamen had so far c
. Narrative of discovery and adventure in the polar seas and regions [microform] : with illustrations of their climate, geology, and natural history ; and an account of the whale-fishery. Natural history; Sciences naturelles. RECENT NORTH-WEST VOYAGES. 231 while, for the future, it was prevented by covering the eyes, or by wearing spectacles, in which crape was used instead of glass. On the 16th March the North Geor^"\ - Theatre was closed with an appropriate address, and the general attention was now turned to the means of extrication from the ice. By the l7th May the seamen had so far cut it from around the ships as to allow them to float; but in the sea it was still immovable. This interval of painful inaction was employed by Mr Parry in an ex- cursion across Melville Island. The ground was still mostly covered with softened snow, and even the cleared tracts were extremely desolate, though chequered by patches of fine verdure. Deer were seen traversing the plains in considerajle numbers. Towards the north appeared another island, to which was given the name of Sabine. By the middle of June pools were every where formed ; the water flowed in streams, and even in torrents, which rendered huntinp; and travelling ur- safe. There were also channels in which boats could pass; yet throughout this month and the following the great covering of ice in the surrounding sea remained entire, and kept the ships in harbour. On the 2d of August, however, the whole mass, by one of those sudden movements to which it is liable, broke up and floated out; and the explorers had now open water in which to prosecute their great object. It was consolatory to think that this was the very season at which they had last year entered Lancaster Sound ; and if they could make as brilliant a voyage this summer, the following one would see them not far from Behring's Straits. But it was not without some obstructions that on the 4th they reached the same spot where their progress had been form
Size: 1123px × 2225px
Photo credit: © The Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, books, booksubjectnaturalhistory
