What were the chief objects of the Polar expedition? Name the chief object of former expeditions in visiting the Arctic regions. Who was one of the most successful Arctic explorers? What was his fate? Who discovered the records of Franklin's last expedition? Give a description of the ships selected for the Polar expedition. Describe the precautions taken to preserve the health of the men. What provisions were taken? What is pemmican? Why were sledges taken? In what year did the ships leave Portsmouth and under whose command?

THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION OF 1875-76.

PART II.

1. After leaving the coast of Ireland, a succession of severe gales separated the ships from each other. They, however, met off the foggy headland of Cape Desolation in Greenland, and soon afterwards entered the harbour of the Danish settlement of Disco. Here they took on board a supply of dogs to draw the sledges, and two wellknown Esquimaux interpreters and dog drivers, "Fred" for the Alert, and "Hans" for the Discovery.

2. The last place they called at was Upernavik. This settlement is the most northerly in the known world. It is a Danish colony, and its chief characteristics are rocks and boulders, black houses with white window shutters,

Map to illustrate the Course of the "Alert" and the "Discovery."

and dogs. Crossing Melville Bay, the ships entered Smith's Channel, which was found filled with pack ice. They took refuge in a little rocky cove, which was for the

time named "Bide a Wee" harbour, from the number of times they had to turn back into it. Before long, however, a strong wind blew the ice a little off the south shore, and both ships rounding Cape Sabine, steamed westward as there was no road to the north.

3. Large mountains of ice were now to be seen on all sides of them, and one day the ships were in great danger from an immense iceberg, which drifted towards them and threatened to crush the ships to pieces. The danger appeared to be so imminent that the crews got their knapsacks and pocket valuables together to be prepared for the worst. Only the skill and patient watchfulness of officers and men saved the ships from destruction.

4. The ships now pressed on northwards through Smith's Sound and the Kennedy and Robeson Channels. Checks and delays were of daily occurrence. Every movement of the ice was watched, and every chance of steaming on eagerly seized. On the 22d of August a well sheltered and commodious bay was found on the north shores of Lady Franklin Strait, and here it was decided the Discovery should winter. A short time was spent in making preparations for the separation of the two ships, and on the 25th of August, the Alert amidst the hearty cheers of the crew of the Discovery steamed northwards.

5. It took the Alert three days to steam twenty miles, and in going this distance, the rudder was so crushed by icebergs, that it had to be changed for a spare one that was carried on deck. The 1st of September was a memorable day for the expedition. A south-south-westerly gale had sprung up during the previous night, and under its influence the broad floes of heavy ice separated from the steep cliffs under which the ship lay, leaving a long line of water, now widening and now narrowing, stretching along the shore into the unknown north.

6. The ship passed rapidly through under full steam, and with top-sails spread. Before noon she had passed several headlands. The land now trended to the westward, low undulating hills succeeded the cliffs of 1000 feet or more, along which she had passed. It snowed lightly, but not enough to conceal the fact that Robeson Channel was altogether behind, and that a broad icecovered sea lay in front. It was not till afterwards that the true size of this sea of polar ice was ascertained. They were now obliged to stop.

7. Before them was a rugged wall of ice of from twenty to forty feet in height, further advance was therefore impossible. A channel of shallow water, however, led to a low point of land to the south. They sailed carefully down this channel and anchored in a little cove that was bounded by the shelving shore on one side, and on the other by a great iceberg that had grounded in the shallow water, and lay firmly fixed. Here it was decided the Alert should winter in latitude 82° 27'. This was farther north than had ever been reached by any other ship.

s. The land here was not absolutely barren, for the few sheltered spots gave protection to some very small specimens of the Arctic poppy now withered into a brilliant green. In one spot a tiny dwarfed Arctic willow was found with a stem no thicker than a crowquill creeping flat amongst the stones. Snow-covered land spread southward and westward, and this rose in one place about eight miles off into two dome-shaped mountains.

9. Sledging parties were sent out to explore the region round about, but the men returned to the ships, suffering from such severe frost-bites that some of them were obliged to have one or two of their toes amputated.

10. Winter now set in, and the words "below zero"

began to be omitted in the daily statements of the temperature. The cold was so intense that those who dwell in this country can have but little idea of its severity. The sun was not seen for 142 days. Sometimes when the nights were clear, the stars were seen or the faint pale moon. At noon the dusky twilight was often a little brightened. Everything that goes to make up the interest of an Arctic winter, was absent in 82 degrees north; and darkness, ice, and cold, reigned supreme.

11. Snow houses were built for observatories, and the snow was banked up against the side of the ship to help to retain her heat. The daily winter routine of the men was muster on deck, succeeded by divine service, then parade for lime juice. Then followed regulation exercise, either by some occupation outside the ship, or walking a weary beat up and down a space marked out on a smooth piece of ice, with heaps of empty preserved meat tins placed at intervals to act as guides in the darkness. Many plans were adopted for keeping up the spirits of the men during this trying time. Entertainments were held, lectures given, and a night school was carried on by the officers.

12. When spring came the difficulties and dangers returned. It was quite settled that the only mode of reaching the Pole was by sledges. On the morning of the 3d of April, seven sledges, manned by fifty-three officers and men, fell into their places on the floe alongside of the ship. The sledges destined for the North Pole were under the command of Captain Markham. The way lay over ice and snow, and the road had to be cut with spades and pickaxes, before the dogs could draw the sledges over it. A temperature of more than 70 degrees below freezing-point was experienced the first week. Sledges and men sunk deeply into the snow. Although