ions
of the land. Indeed, at the present day, the former is perhaps the
greater field.

The scope of our intentions was regarded by some as over-ambitious, but
knowing

How far high failure overleaps the bound
Of low successes,

and seeing nothing impossible in these arrangements, we continued to
adhere to them as closely as possible, with what fortune remains to be
told.

To secure a suitable vessel was a matter of fundamental importance.
There was no question of having a ship built to our design, for the
requisite expenditure might well have exceeded the whole cost of our
Expedition. Accordingly the best obtainable vessel was purchased, and
modified to fulfil our requirements. Such craft are not to be had in
southern waters; they are only to be found engaged in Arctic whaling and
sealing.

The primary consideration in the design of a vessel built to navigate
amid the ice is that the hull be very staunch, capable of driving into
the pack and of resisting lateral pressure, if the ice should close in
around it.

So a thick-walled timber vessel, with adequate stiffening in the
framework, would meet the case. The construction being of wood imparts
a certain elasticity, which is of great advantage in easing the shock
of impacts with floating ice. As has been tragically illustrated in a
recent disaster, the ordinary steel ship would be ripped on its first
contact with the ice. Another device, to obviate the shock and to assist
in forging a way through the floe-ice, is to have the bow cut away below
the water-line. Thus, instead of presenting to the ice a vertical face,
which would immediately arrest the ship and possibly cause considerable
damage on account of the sudden stress of the blow, a sloping,
overhanging bow is adopted. This arrangement enables the bow to rise
over the impediment, with a gradual slackening of speed. The immense
weight put upon the ice crushes it and the ship settles down, moving
ahead and gathering speed to meet the next obstacle.

[TEXT ILLUSTRATION]

Plan and Section of S.Y. 'Aurora'

Of importance second only to a strong hull is the possession of sails in
addition to engines. The latter are a sine qua non in polar navigation,
whilst sails allow of economy in the consumption of coal, and always
remain as a last resort should the coal-supply be exhausted or the
propeller damaged.

The 'Aurora', of the Newfoundland sealing fleet, was ultimately
purchased and underwent neces