Kane's ship. To him we are indebted for much information on the manners and habits of the Eskimos, and for much scientific knowledge. He pushed his discoveries in the same direction as Dr. Kane, and succeeded, in May 1861, in reaching as high north as latitude 81° 35', the most northern point of land yet attained. The whole of his journal is written in a florid style, and is full of beauty. His description of an iceberg is as follows:'Solemn, stately, and erect, in tempest and in calm, it rides the deep. Through its broken archways the waves resound, and thunder against its adamantine walls. In the morning it is veiled in clouds as impenetrable as those which shrouded the fair form of Arethusa, in the beautiful Greek fable; at noon the sun equips it in silver armour; in the evening it is resplendent with all the glowing colours of the sunset; and in the silent night its surface reflects the heavenly orbs. Drifting snows whirl over it in winter; sea-gulls make it their haunt in summer. Its lofty spires are touched with the last rays of expiring day; and when the long darkness has passed, it catches the first faint glow of returning light, and with gilded crest announces the coming of the morn. The elements combine to do homage to its matchless beauty. Its loud voice is wafted to the shore, and the echoes carry the sound into the heart of the remotest hills. The sun steals the "veil of radiant fountains" which shimmer over it in spray and foam in the summer winds; and the rainbow hangs out its many-tinted banners on its lofty crest. With wreaths of soft vapour it is garlanded by the air, and all around it the waters shine with the rare glory of emerald and sapphire. Onward, onward, to fulfil its destiny, it sails along the blue pathway of the sea, heedless of varying

winds, heedless of passing seasons. And in the course of time, succumbing to the universal law of nature, it sinks back slowly into the all-absorbing waters, from which, long ages ago, it took its rise.. Of this great law it is indeed a noble monument, and to the changes of time a more solemn witness "than the Egyptian pyramids or the obelisk of Heliopolis." Before man came upon the world which had been so carefully prepared to receive him as its lord, the crystals of which that iceberg is built up were dewdrops sparkling in the sun, and snowflakes falling through the air, like feathers from the wings of unseen spirits.' There! The description of Dr. Hayes is so poetic and grandiloquent that it is a pity we have not a real iceberg to look at. No doubt, in passing through life, you will meet with numbers of human icebergs, that have not one-half the redeeming features of the one just described.

Another journey which Dr. Hayes made to Greenland in 1869 is full of instruction and interest, but we must pass it by, as it does not belong immediately to our subject. Should any of you wish to know all about the Greenlanders and their country, you will find the completest information in the account of this voyage of Dr. Hayes in 1869.

We will conclude this portion of our subject by a short notice of the expedition under Captain Charles Francis Hall (another enthusiastic but unfortunate American), which was sent out, not only in search of Sir John Franklin, but to reach the North Pole. After a very prolonged cruise, and by the most careful investigation of evidence, Captain Hall arrived at the conclusion that Franklin and his gallant band had mostly perished in King William Land; and that some had made their way to the Great Fish River, but ultimately

perished too. Upon his return to America, in 1868, he expressed himself confidently that the North Pole could be reached by way of Smith Sound. In response to his earnest appeals, the Polaris was fitted out in 1871, and placed under his command. The American flag which had been carried by De Haven, Dr. Kane, and Dr. Hayes, and which had waved each time nearer the Pole, was given to him, to plant this time by the very throne of the ice king. And poor Hall did his best, under the most depressing circumstances. It was his highest ambition to reach the Pole, and in the attempt he sacrificed his life.

In less than two months from the time of starting he had reached the old winter-quarters of Dr. Kane; another day more and he had steamed into what was called Kane's 'Open Sea,' but which proved to be a land-locked bay, and which he marked on his chart by the name of his shipPolaris Bay. The season was so exceptionally favourable, that the steamer still threaded its way until latitude 81° 38′ had been reached, and the Polaris was comfortably 'housed' for the winter in what the captain gratefully called Thank God Harbour. Oh, the joy and excitement of marking on a blank chart lands and seas not known before, and of giving names to headlands and bays according to your fancy or taste! Poor fellow! he was only permitted to make one sledge journey. On his return from that he appeared to be smitten with paralysis, and in a few days died. They buried him in a desolate spot in that far off northern land; and with the death of their leader died their hopes of success. The project of reaching the Pole was at once abandoned. The fate of the Polaris after this; the adventures of the crew in their

escape from these frigid regions; the unhappy dissensions among officers and men; the questionable conduct of the officer who took the command, and the investigation into the matter by the Board of Inquiry, are all matters of interest, but we cannot dwell upon them.

Perhaps a few lines can be spared for some particulars about seals, as observed by Captain Tyson, who joined the Polaris at Disco Island, in the capacity of assistant navigator. According to his account, when a seal is caught by the Eskimos it is divided in one orthodox fashion. 'First the blanket is taken off—that is, the skin, which includes the blubber. Then the body is opened carefully, in such a way as to prevent the blood being lost. It is placed in such a position that the blood will flow into the internal cavity; this is carefully scooped out, and either saved for future use or passed round for each to drink a portion. The liver and heart are considered delicacies, and divided as equally as possible, so that all may partake. The brain is also a dainty, and either reserved or equally divided. The eyes are given to the youngest child. Next the flesh is equally apportioned. Sometimes the person who distributes it cuts it up as fairly as he can, and then, standing with his back to the pieces, another person calls out the names of the company in succession, and each receives his portion, without the distributor being able to display any favouritism. The entrails are usually scraped, and allowed to freeze before they are eaten. The skins are generally saved for clothing, and also for many other domestic purposes, such as the construction of kajaks and oomiaks, the reins and harnesses of dog-sledges, and for tents; in fact, to almost everything which