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 1

William Edward Parry

Informations

• Publié par: choom
• Publié le: 08 décembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 123
• Langue: English

Extrait

The Project Gutenberg eBook, 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 1 (of 2), by Sir William Edward Parry This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Title: 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 1 (of 2) Author: Sir William Edward Parry Release Date: September 22, 2004 [eBook #13512] Language: English ***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 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 1 (OF 2)*** E-text prepared by Robert Connal, Tony Browne, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team from images generously made available by the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions Transcriber's Note: The character = preceeding a vowel is used to indicate that the vowel is to be pronounced long. The character ~ preceeding a vowel is used to indicate that the vowel is to be pronounced short. These characters do not occur otherwise. 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 I by SIR W. E. PARRY, CAPT. R.N., F.R.S. In Two Volumes. 1844 [Illustration CAPTAIN W.E. PARRY R.N.]PUBLISHERS' ADVERTISEMENT The two volumes herewith presented to the public contain an uninterrupted narrative, in Captain Parry's own words, of the five voyages made by that distinguished navigator, under the sanction of the British government, in search of a passage from the eastern to the western side of the American Continent, through the Arctic Ocean. Although abbreviated, the curtailment has been effected, not by any change in the language of the original writer, but merely by omitting all such details as were not inviting to the general reader; and, in a word, changing the character of the work from that of an official report to that of a narrative. The effort has been to preserve all interesting and amusing particulars; to record all facts and transactions of importance; to present an accurate though brief notice of all valuable accessions to geographic as well as general knowledge, effected in the progress of the voyages; and, at the same time, to keep the reader's attention ever on the alert by the rapid and uninterrupted succession of striking incidents. It is hoped that the aim here designated has been accomplished; and that, in the abridged narrative of Parry's Voyages, there will be found matter, not only to interest the reader for amusement, but also to improve. The scenes and adventures recorded by the navigator are in the highest degree novel and remarkable; and it cannot be other than profitable to know what perils were encountered, what courage, firmness, and ingenuity were displayed, what moral and physical influences were developed, and what triumphs of human skill were achieved, in the progress of voyages undertaken solely to advance the interests of science. H. & B. New-York, May, 1840. CONTENTS of THE FIRST VOLUME INTRODUCTION. CHAPTER I. Passage across the Atlantic.—Enter Davis's Strait.—Unsuccessful Attempt to penetrate the Ice to the Western Coast.—Voyage up the Strait.—Passage through the Ice to the Western Coast.—Arrival off Possession Bay, on the Southern Side of the Entrance into Sir James Lancaster's Sound. CHAPTER II. Entrance into Sir James Lancaster's Sound of Baffin.—Uninterrupted Passage to the Westward.—Discovery and Examination of Prince Regent's Inlet.—Progress to the Southward stopped by Ice.—Return to the Northward.—Pass Barrow's Strait, and enter the Polar Sea. CHAPTER III. Favourable Appearances of an open Westerly Passage.—Land to the Northward, a Series of Islands.—General Appearance of them.—Meet with some Obstruction from low Islands surrounded with Ice.—Remains of Esquimaux Huts, and natural Productions of Byam Martin Island.—Tedious Navigation from Fogs and Ice.—Difficulty of Steering a Proper Course.—Arrival and Landing on Melville Island.—Proceed to the Westward, and reach the Meridian of 110° W. Long., the first Stage in the Scale of Rewards granted by Act of Parliament. CHAPTER IV. Further Examination of Melville Island.—Continuation of our Progress to the Westward.—Long detention by the Ice.— Party sent on Shore to hunt Deer and Musk-oxen.—Return in three Days, after losing their Way.—Anxiety on their Account.—Proceed to the Westward till finally stopped by the Ice.—In returning to the Eastward, the Griper forced on the Beach by the Ice.—Search for, and Discovery of, a Winter Harbour on Melville Island.—Operations for securing the Ships in their Winter Quarters. CHAPTER V.Precautions for securing the Ships and Stores.—For promoting Good Order, Cleanliness, Health, and Good-Humour among the Ships' Companies.—Establishment of a Theatre and of the North Georgia Gazette.—Erection of an Observatory on Shore.—Commence our Winter's Amusements.—State of the Temperature, and various Meteorological Phenomena.—Miscellaneous Occurrences to the Close of the Year 1819. CHAPTER VI. First Appearance of Scurvy.—The Aurora Borealis and other Meteorological Phenomena.—Visits of the Wolves.—Reappearance of the Sun.—Extreme low Temperature.—Destruction of the House on Shore by Fire.—Severe Frostbites occasioned by this Accident. CHAPTER VII. More temperate Weather.—House rebuilt.—Quantity of Ice collected on the Hecla's lower Deck.—Meteorological Phenomena.—Conclusion of Theatrical Entertainments.—Increased Sickness on board the Griper.—Clothes first dried in the open Air.—Remarkable Halos and Parhelia.—Snow Blindness.—Cutting the Ice round the Ships, and other Occurrences to the Close of May. CHAPTER VIII. Journey across Melville Island to the Northern Shore, and Return to the Ships by a different Route. CHAPTER IX. Occurrences at Winter Harbour in the early Part of June.—Gradual Dissolution of the Ice upon the Sea and of the Snow upon the Land.—Decease and Burial of William Scott.—Equipment of the Ships completed.—Temperate Weather during the Month of July.—Breaking up of the Ice near the Ships.—Move to the lower Part of the Harbour.—Separation of the Ice at the Entrance.—Prepare to Sail.—Abstract of Observations made in Winter Harbour. CHAPTER X. Leave Winter Harbour.—Flattering Appearance of the Sea to the Westward.—Stopped by the Ice near Cape Hay.— Farther Progress to the Longitude of 113° 48' 22.5", being the Westernmost Meridian hitherto reached in the Polar Sea, to the North of America.—Banks's Land discovered.—Increased Extent and Dimensions of the Ice.—Return to the Eastward, to endeavour to penetrate the Ice to the Southward.—Re-enter Barrow's Strait, and Survey its South Coast.— Pass through Sir James Lancaster's Sound on our Return to England. CHAPTER XI. Progress down the Western Coast of Baffin's Bay.—Meet with the Whalers.—Account of some Esquimaux in the Inlet called the River Clyde.—Continue the Survey of the Coast till stopped by Ice in the Latitude of 68¼°.—Obliged to run to the Eastward.—Fruitless Attempts to regain the Land, and final Departure from the Ice.—Remarks upon the probable Existence and Practicability of a Northwest Passage, and upon the Whale Fishery.—Boisterous Weather in Crossing the Atlantic.—Loss of the Hecla's Bowsprit and Foremast.—Arrival in England. SECOND VOYAGE. PRELIMINARY CHAPTER.CHAPTER I. Passage across the Atlantic.—Removal of Stores from the Nautilus Transport, at the Margin of the Ice.—Departure of the Nautilus for England.—Enter the Ice in Hudson's Strait.—Perilous Situation of the Hecla, and Loss of her Anchor.—Meet with the Hudson's Bay Ships.—Passage up the Strait, and Communication with the Natives inhabiting the Northern Shores.—Pass the Trinity Islands of Fox.—Arrival off Southampton Island, where the Researches of the Expedition commence. CHAPTER II. Review of the Geographical Information obtained by the Researches of former Navigators on the Coast of the American Continent, in the Neighbourhood of Wager River.—Discover and enter the Duke of York's Bay, supposing it to be a Passage into the Sea called the Welcome.—Leave the Duke of York's Bay, and proceed to the Northwestward.—Passage of the Frozen Strait and Arrival in Repulse Bay.—Continuity of Land there.—Observations on Shore.—Remarks concerning the Geography, Tides, and Natural History of this Part of the Continental Coast. CHAPTER III. Return to the Eastward through the Frozen Strait.—Discovery of Hurd Channel.—Examined in a Boat.—Loss of the Fury's Anchor.—Providential Escape of the Fury from Shipwreck.—Anchor in Duckett Cove.—Farther Examination of the Coast by Boats and Walking-parties.—Ships proceed through Hurd Channel.—Are drifted by the Ice back to Southampton Island.—Unobstructed Run to the Entrance of a large Inlet leading to the Northwestward.—Ships made fast by Hawsers to the Rocks.—Farther Examination of the Inlet commenced in the Boats. CHAPTER IV. Hoppner's Inlet entered and surveyed by the Boats.—Continuity of Land there determined.—Proceed to examine another Opening leading to the Westward.—Favourable Appearance of a continued Passage in that direction.—Meet with some Esquimaux.—Arrival in Ross Bay, being the Termination of Lyon Inlet.—Discovery and Examination of various Creeks.— Return to the Ships, after finding the Land entirely continuous.—Some Account of the Natural History of this Part of the Coast. CHAPTER V. Farther Examination in the Boats for the Purpose of Connecting the Shores of Lyon Inlet with that of Gore Bay.—Continuity of the Land determined.—Fresh Detention by the Ice.—Boats carried over Land.—Return