A Voyage of Discovery: Made Under the Orders of the Admiralty, in His Majesty's Ships Isabella and Alexander, for the Purpose of Exploring Baffin's Bay, and Enquiring Into the Probability of a North-west Passage, Volume 1Author's journal of 1818 expedition in search of Northwest Passage. Includes information on ice conditions, and descriptions of Polar Eskimos of Cape York region and of extensive stretches of red snow seen there. Also contains record of personnel, equipment, all orders, and work carried out. |
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Admiralty aground Alexander altitude appeared Arctic Highlanders August 13 August 14 August 21 awks azimuth Baffin bearing became berg boat bottom Cape Byam Martin Cape Charlotte Cape Melville Captain channel chronometers clear coast colour compass crew deck deviation direction Disco discovered distance ditto Dorothea Dudley Digges Eskimaux feet fifty fathoms floes formed four gale Greenland Hare Island Island John Ross July 17 June June 14 land large icebergs latitude Lieutenant Parry Long longitude Majesty's Ship mast-head Meigack meridian altitude midnight miles morning mountains named natives needle noon northward o'clock obliged observations officers party passage passed pieces of ice Sacheuse sail sea-unicorn seals seen sent Shetland Ship Isabella ship's shore side sight sledge snow soon Sound southward specimens steered stood tack thick fog tion voyage Waygatt weather westward whale wind
Popular passages
Page 100 - ... the fourth man being apparently stationed to keep them in readiness for escape. Sometimes they drew back the covering they had on their heads, as if wishing to catch the most distant sounds ; at which time I could discern their features, displaying extreme terror and amazement, while every limb appeared to tremble as they moved.
Page 227 - On the 31st (he says) we discovered, for the first time, that the land extended from the south two-thirds across this apparent Strait ; but the fog which continually occupied that quarter, obscured its real figure. During the day much interest was excited on board by the appearance of this Strait. The general opinion, however, was, that it was only an inlet. The land was partially seen extending across ; the yellow sky was perceptible. At a little before...
Page 110 - Their knowledge of wood seemed to be limited to some heath of a dwarfish growth, with stems no thicker than the finger ; and, accordingly, they knew not what to think of the timber they saw on board. Not being aware of its weight, two or three of them, successively, seized on the spare topmast, evidently with the view of carrying it off; and, as soon as they became familiar with the people around them, they showed that desire of possessing what they admired, which is so universal among savages.
Page 232 - At this moment I also saw a continuity of ice, at the distance of seven miles, extending from one side of the bay to the other, between the nearest cape to the north, which I named after Sir George Warrender, and that to the south, which was named after Viscount Castlereagh.
Page 232 - I named after Sir George Warrender, and that to the south, which was named after Viscount Castlereagh. The mountains, which occupied the centre, in a north and south direction, were named Croker's Mountains, after the Secretary to the Admiralty.
Page 86 - ... circular direction, in consequence of one side having struck on the fixed field. The pressure continuing to increase, it became doubtful whether the ship would be able to sustain it; every support threatened to give way, the beams in the hold began to bend, and the iron tanks settled together. At this critical moment, when it seemed impossible for us to bear the accumulating pressure much longer, the hull rose several feet ; while the ice, which was more than six feet thick, broke against the...
Page 102 - Long, 65° 32'. their sledges, having driven up to join their comrades. The party now, therefore, consisted of eight natives, with all their sledges, and about fifty dogs, two sailors, Sacheuse...
Page 231 - At three, the officer of the watch, who was relieved to his dinner by Mr. Lewis, reported, on his coming into the cabin, that there was some appearance of its clearing at the bottom of the bay; I immediately, therefore, went on deck, and soon after it completely cleared for about ten minutes, and I distinctly saw the land, round the bottom of the bay, forming a connected chain of mountains with those which extended along the north and south sides. This land appeared to be at the distance of eight...
Page 187 - ... preserved meat ; and it was found that this nourishment, when the mind and body were both occupied, and the sun continually present, rendered them capable of remaining without sleep, so that they often passed three days in this manner without any visible inconvenience, returning after a meal to their labour on the ice or in the boats quite refreshed, and continuing at it without a murmur. After making hasty and very cursory examinations of Smith's and Jones' Sounds, Ross arrived on the 30th of...
Page 189 - ... In fact, on this occasion, as well as others of more consequence, to which we shall presently advert, Captain Ross, unfortunately for the accomplishment of the object on which he was sent, contented himself with conjecture where proof was accessible; for all he remarks respecting this sound is, that it seemed to be eighteen or twenty leagues in depth, and the land on the east side appeared to be habitable. When it is considered that in these high and foggy latitudes much deception of sight takes...