Three Voyages for the Discovery of a Northwest Passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and Narrative of an Attempt to Reach the North Pole, Volume 2Parry, William Edward, Sir
History
Three Voyages for the Discovery of a Northwest Passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and Narrative of an Attempt to Reach the North Pole, Volume 2
Parry, William Edward, Sir
Arctic regions; Northwest Passage; Parry, William Edward, Sir, 1790-1855
us, some lemon-juice and sugar were not the least acceptable; two or
three of the men having for some days past suffered from oedematous
swellings of the legs, and evinced other symptoms apparently scorbutic,
but which soon improved after administering this valuable specific.
Having got our stores into the boats, we rowed round Table Island to
look for a place on which to rest, the men being much fatigued; but so
rugged and inhospitable is this northern rock, that not a single spot
could we find where the boats could possibly be hauled up, or lie afloat
in security. I therefore determined to take advantage of the freshening
of the N.E. wind, and to bear up for Walden Island, which we accordingly
did at two P.M. We had scarcely made, sail when the weather became
extremely inclement, with a fresh gale and very thick snow, which
obscured Walden Island from our view. Steering by compass, however, we
made a good landfall, the boats behaving well in a sea; and at seven
P.M. landed in the smoothest place we could find under the lee of the
island. Everything belonging to us was now completely drenched by the
spray and snow; we had been fifty-six hours without rest, and
forty-eight at work in the boats, so that, by the time they were
unloaded, we had barely strength left to haul them up on the rock. We
noticed, on this occasion, that the men had that wildness in their looks
which usually accompanies excessive fatigue; and, though just as willing
as ever to obey orders, they seemed at times not to comprehend them.
However, by dint of great exertion, we managed to get the boats above
the surf; after which, a hot supper, a blazing fire of driftwood, and a
few hours' quiet rest, quite restored us.
The next morning, the 13th, I despatched Lieutenant Ross, with a party
of hands, to the N.E. part of the island, to launch the spare boat,
which, according to my directions, Lieutenant Foster had sent for our
use, and to bring round the stores deposited there in readiness for our
setting off for Low Island. They found everything quite undisturbed;
but, by the time they reached us, the wind had backed to the westward,
and the weather become very wet, so that I determined to remain here
till it improved.
At ten A.M. on the 14th, the weather being fine, we launched our three
boats and left Walden Island; but the wind backing more to the westward,
we could only fetch into a bay on the opposite or southern shore, where
we hauled the boats up on very rugged rocks, under cliffs about six
hundred feet high, and of the same granite formation as Walden Island.
The wind dying away on the morning of the 17th, we once more set out for
the ship at nine A.M.; but having a second time nearly reached Shoal
Point, were again met by a strong breeze as we opened Waygatz Strait,
and were therefore obliged to land upon the low shore to the southward
of Low Island.
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