Journals of the First, Second and Third Voyages for the Discovery of a North-west Passage: From the Atlantic to the Pacific in 1819-20-21-22-23-24-25 in His Majesty's Ships Hecla, Griper and Fury Under the Orders of W. E. Parry, 2. köideJ. Murray, 1828 |
Common terms and phrases
Admiralty Inlet allow appeared beach became black whale board the Hecla boat breeze Byam Martin Island canoes Cape CAPE DUNDAS Cape Kater Captain Sabine circumstances clear water close coast continued course deer direction distance drift eastward eight A.M. eleven P.M. entrance Esquimaux favourable feet five miles floes four fresh glaucous gulls Griper grounded ice half half-past halted hauled heavy hill hole hundred yards immediately inlet ivory gulls James Lancaster's Sound journey latitude Lieutenant Beechey Lieutenant Liddon longitude longitude by chronometer loose ice lying masses of ice Melville Island morning navigation nearly night noon northward observed occasion party pieces Possession Bay ptarmigan quantity quarter ravine rection remarked River Clyde running sail sandstone scarcely season seen ships shore side Sir James Lancaster's situation six P.M. snow soon sorrel southward tents thick tion voyage ward weather westward whale whole wind Winter Harbour
Popular passages
Page 237 - Again, in another place, he says, " Of the existence of a North- West Passage to the Pacific it is now scarcely possible to doubt, and from the success which attended our efforts in 1819, after passing through Sir James Lancaster's Sound, we were not unreasonable in anticipating its complete accomplishment. But the season in which it is practicable to navigate the Polar Seas does not exceed seven weeks. From all that we observed it seems desirable that ships endeavouring to reach the Pacific Ocean...
Page 50 - They consisted of rude circles, about six feet in diameter, constructed irregularly of stones of all sizes and shapes, and raised to the height of two feet from the ground. They were paved with large slabs of white schistose sandstone, which is here abundant. The moss had spread over this floor, and appeared to be the growth of three or four years. In each of the huts on one side was a small separate compartment forming a recess, projecting outward, which had probably been their store-room; and at...
Page 124 - We have been lying near our present station, with an easterly wind blowing fresh, for thirty-six hours together, and although this was considerably off the land, the ice had not during the whole of that time moved a single yard from the shore, affording a proof that there was no space in which the ice was at liberty to move to the westward.
Page 122 - It now became evident, from the combined experience of this and the preceding year, that there was something peculiar about the south-west extremity of Melville Island, which made the icy sea there extremely unfavourable to navigation...
Page 199 - In this case (he refers to barter) they licked it (the thing represented to them) twice to their tongues, after which they seemed to consider the bargain satisfactorily concluded.
Page 160 - From the shortness of the limbs, and the weight of the body, it might be inferred that the musk ox could not run with any speed ; but it is stated by Parry, that although they run in a hobbling sort of canter that makes them appear as if every now and then about to fall, yet the slowest of these musk oxen can far outstrip a man.
Page 223 - Upon the whole, these people may be considered in possession of every necessary of life, as well as of most of the comforts and conveniences which can be enjoyed in so rude a state of society. In the situation and circumstances in which the Esquimaux of North Greenland are placed, there is much to excite compassion for the low state to which human nature appears to be there reduced; a state in few respects superior to that of the bear or the seal, which they kill for their subsistence. But, with...
Page 199 - ... and then very quietly kept his seat. While he was sitting for his picture, the other three stood behind him, bartering their commodities with great honesty, but in a manner which showed them to be no strangers to traffic. If, for instance, a knife was offered for any article, they would hesitate for a short time, till they saw we were determined to give no higher price, and then at once consented to the exchange. In this case, as well as when anything was presented to them, they immediately licked...
Page 209 - I then offered a larger price than before, but she could not be induced to part with it. The stature of these people, like that of Esquimaux in general, is much below the usual standard. The height of the old man, who was rather bent by age, was four feet eleven inches; and that of the other men, from five feet four and a half to five feet six inches. Their faces are round and plump in the younger individuals; skin smooth; complexion not very dark, except that of the old man; teeth very white; eyes...
Page 220 - ... Captain Lyon found a hatchet of English manufacture among the Esquimaux of Melville Peninsula thus mounted, and the shaft was scooped out in such a way as to allow the hand to fit it, each finger having its particular place. The knives used by the men are of two kinds ; the one is made of the tusk of the walrus, cut or ground sufficiently thin for the purpose, and as it retains the original curve of the tusk, it resembles the little swords which the English child plays with as a toy ; the other...