m were
arctic explorers of note, the former ultimately destined to perish in
the realms of ice.

The two ships were accompanied by the _Nautilus_ transport, filled with
stores and provisions, to be transhipped on arriving at the ice.

Parry was directed to proceed towards or into Hudson's Straits. He was
then to penetrate to the westward until he should reach Repulse Bay, or
some other part of the shores of Hudson's Bay to the north of Wager
River, or some portion of the coast which he should feel convinced to be
a part of America. Failing this, he was to keep along the line of this
coast to the northward, examining every bend or inlet which should
appear likely to afford a practicable passage to the westward.

The three ships sailed from the Nore on the 8th of May, 1821, but it was
not until the 14th of June that they came in sight of the first iceberg,
or until the 2nd of July that they reached Resolution Island, the
valleys of which were filled with snow, while a dense fog hung over the
land, rendering the scene before them indescribably dreary and desolate.
In a short time the ships were surrounded by no less than six hundred
and fifty-four icebergs, one of which rose to two hundred and
fifty-eight feet above the sea. Among them were large floes, which were
turned round and round by the strong tides and currents rushing in from
the ocean. At the same time, fearful as they are in appearance, they
are less dangerous to approach than those aground, against which a ship
is liable to be carried with the whole force of the tide.

Captain Lyon, on one occasion, having fixed an anchor to a mass of ice
with two strong hawsers, both were carried away, and the anchor broken
off as if it had been made of crockeryware. The ships were here
separated to the distance of eleven or twelve miles, and became closely
beset by the ice, where they remained for eight or nine days. During
nineteen days only seventy miles were made. At length they reached, on
the 21st, the Savage Islands. Next afternoon a loud shouting was heard,
and shortly afterwards a large number of natives were seen paddling
their canoes through the lanes of open water, or occasionally drawing
them over the ice. These were chiefly kayaks, rowed by a single man.
There were also five oomiaks or women's boats, of considerable size,
formed of a framework of wood and whalebone, covered with deer-skins,
and having flat sides and bottom. One of these contained no