that measure on many occasions, but our total ignorance of the nature and extent of the inlets, the sets of the tides and currents, and the likelihood or otherwise of getting hampered therein by the ice."

These views were pretty generally held by other parties who had been at Davis Strait, and so long back as 1833, Capt. Simpson of the Traveller of Peterhead, when in Exeter Bay, lat. 66° 35′ N., took occasion to consult a tribe of natives whom he found located there, and obtained as much information as produced a strong impression on his mind that there was an unexplored bay at no great distance, where whales were plentiful at all seasons of the year. With a view to determine that point, Capt. Simpson's mate, Mr. Penny left the ship in one of the boats efficiently manned, and accompanied by two of the most intelligent natives which could be found among the tribes, they left the ship the 22d of September. After getting up the sound about thirty miles, a gale of wind came on, which obliged them to return, having discovered nothing farther than a few winter huts of the natives built close by the shore. In August 1837, several vessels chanced to be lying in Durban harbour, lat. 67°, when the same tribes of Esquimaux were fallen in with that were found at Exeter Bay in 1833. Following out the views of the geography of the country, which had been frequently talked of, they sought, as much intercourse as possible with the natives, and remarked that they often spoke incidently of crossing over in "two sleeps." This, and various other circumstances, revived the idea of exploring the country, and a partial exploration took place; but the season being too late to admit of any very "decisive effort being made; and having been misled on some preliminary points, by the false interpretations of an Orkney seaman, who professed to have an extensive acquaintance with the Esquimaux language, the idea was given up for the

time.

In 1838 the ships got early through Melville Bay, and had a good fishing on the west coast; consequently there was little inducement to renew the attempt to explore the country; but, when in Durban harbour, the natives again alluded to "Tenudiakbeek," the name they applied to the bay in question. In 1839, the "Neptune," Captain Penny, with other vessels, was beset for fourteen days in Melville Bay; but, getting clear, they returned south, and crossed to the west side in the end of July, when a few whales were seen making along the shore to the south, where they disappeared; and, it is presumed, went round Cape Enderby, up Cumberland Straits, where fish had been frequently traced in previous seasons. Captain Penny being now more convinced than ever, that there must be some inlet to the west, where these whales harboured, again took Durban Harbour, where he found the same tribe of natives he had seen the previous seasons; and, after some consultation,

te persuaded four of them to accompany him, as pilots, in search of this supposed bay. The "Neptune" left Durban Harbour on the 4th of September, and on getting down as far as Exeter Sound, he plied her up the inlet he had partially explored in 1833, for a considerable distance, and then took to the boats, and after much anxious perseverance, found that the bight terminated in a point, without offering any prospect of an opening to the west. Thus disappointed, they returned to the Neptune, surveying the land as they came down, and noting its leading features. His pilots were now very anxious to return, and the season being so far advanced, Captain Penny thought it useless to persevere farther. This attempt occupied sixteen days, during which time the Esquimaux on board, and Captain Penny became able to communicate pretty freely with each other. On reaching Durban Harbour again, a consultation was held with several other shipmasters, whose vessels were lying there, and the Esquimaux he had in the "Neptune,” with others of their tribe, were induced to disclose as much geographical kLowledge as enabled Captain Penny to draw up a chart, which presents an outline of an extensive territory, sufficient of itself to awaken a strong desire in the public mind to have it further explored. Viewed in connexion with the foregoing opinions of Captain Ross and "Baffin," the question assumes a still more imposing attitude, and invites a strict inquiry into the facts on which the discovery rests.

The only point of interest which Captain Penny can vouch for, on personal observation, is the district between Cape Searle, Cape Durban, and Exeter Sound. In comparing the general outline here, with that laid down in the charts commonly used, a striking difference will be observed. This arises from the fact that the ordinary charts have been constructed from observations taken at considerable distances from the land, while Captain Penny's were taken on the spot, and the minuteness with which the islands in this sound are particularised, reflects much credit on Captain Penny's intelligence and perseverance. The rest of the drawing is founded on the testimony of the natives, and here the following questions naturally suggest themselves: How did the Esquimaux come to know the precise position of the coast, from the entrance to Teniakbeek, in Cumberland Straits, round Cape Enderby, to Cape Searle, the distance being, by this route, fully four hundred miles! How did they calculate distance, and describe locality, when they have no knowledge of our method of computing time and quantity?

In answer to the first question, it was satisfactorily ascertained that a few tribes, of a wandering disposition, left their native huts, on the shores of Teniakbeek, penetrated a considerable distance down the straits, and rounding Cape Enderby, keeping close to the land, accidently fell in with some of the British whalers on the west coast. In this way,

"Eenoolooapick," an intelligent Esquimaux, twenty years of age, who is now in Aberdeen, found his way to Cape Searle, where Captain Penny met with him. It will be observed that there are a few clusters of dots studded here and there along the coast in this direction: these represent the huts of several tribes of Esquimax, who are now settled in the localities marked, having dropped off as it were, from the original and more adventurous of their friends with whom they first set out. It may appear surprising that such a distance as four hundred miles should have been travelled in their luggage boats, (large canoes,) by the water's edge; but those who are acquainted with the history of the Esquimaux are nowise dismayed at this, being satisfied that they ply almost incredible distances, and in the face of the greatest difficulties, in a very brief space of time.

In answer to the second question, the esquimaux measure distance by sleeps, one sleep being equal to fifteen miles; that is they travel fifteen by land between the time they go to sleep, when in ordinary health. With respect to the measurement of those localities where they had no opportunity of calculating by "sleeps," they fixed on a particular spot in the vicinity of Cape Searle, and taking that as a standard, gave an estimate to the extent of the quantity which they possess an idea of: this only extends to twenty the number of their fingers and toes. When these failed to describe fully any given quantity, they made a definite sign for the surplus, repeating that sign often, if the surplus quantity were large, and but seldom if it were small. Hence the chart must be very vague and indefinite.

Proceeding on these calculations the bay would measure about 160 miles in length by 60 in breadth, exclusive of the bights on the southwest side, which would stand about 15 miles inland by 5 in breadth. The isthmus between Kmgaithe to Durban harbour would be about 30 miles, the natives having crossed it from Cape Durban and back in 1837, in five days. In proof of this they went to Teniabeek for bone, in 1837, and brought it over at the request of Capt. Volum, of the Joseph Green, of Peterhead, and Capt. Kerr of the Clarendon of Leith. With respect to the bay itself, it was stated by the Equimaux, that it freezes about December and breaks up in June, when it is literally filled with whales: the Esquimaux then pitch their tents on the land ice, and commence killing, or rather catching the whales; this they do by means of what they call drags attached to lines made of the skin of the walrus, and fixed to the whale by harpoons or darts. The way in which the whales are thus caught, as described by the esquimaux Capt. Penny has now with him, is most amusing.

When the whales leave the bay they take into the land bights, and ply among the islands on the west side. Here the tides run pretty

strong, but the fishing would not be so dangerous by any means, as it is in Davis Strait. There are a great many white whales in some of the bights, and the young ones are tame.

The lowlands on the west side contain plenty of deer; and there are numerous lakes containing abundance of salmon. The main land generally, is well stocked with animals and birds; and the climate appears to be comparatively mild and healthy. There are thousands of Esquimaux on the west side of the bay, a fact which proves clearly that the locality is one of vast extent and valuable resources. On the east side the land is high and bold, having two inlets deeply indented; from one of which there is access by a day's travel to a bight a little south of Loch-Ryan. It will be seen that there is a volcano marked on the chart. It has been assumed as such from the signs which the Esquimaux make, as if they looked down a crater, and felt a tepid disagreeable smell.

Looking carefully then at these facts, assuming them to be facts, there can be but one opinion as to the propriety of doing some hing to encourage the farther exploration of the country, and we doubt not this will be done. The esquimaux, Capt. Penny has with him, is said to be a clever and intelligent young man, and when once educated would be able to guide any party who might proceed in the investigation. The importance of the fishery to Great Britain is allowed on all hands, and nothing should be left undone which would tend, in any way, to revive it, and encourage its future progress.

[The chart alluded to has not reached us.-ED.]

SCURVY AND ITS ANTIDOTES.

[The following remarks on the "Cause of Scurvy, and the means of curing it, by Dr. George Budd, F.R.S.,* appear so important to the readers of the “Nautical Magazine," that we are induced to transfer them to our own pages, from the small pamphlet published by that gentleman.]

Two centuries ago Scurvy was a common disease throughout all the northern countries of Europe. The writers, from whom we have derived accounts of it, agree in stating, that it generally showed itself towards the end of winter, or in the early part of spring, and that it uniformly disappeared during summer and autumn; but that it was at the close of long and severe winters, or when the country had been laid waste by war, and during long sieges, that its ravages were principally felt.

* Also Fellow of Caius College, Cambridge, and Physician to the Seamens' Hospital, "Dreadnought.”

As agriculture and gardening improved, Scurvy became gradually less frequent, and we have witnessed its almost complete extinction, on land, as the influence of these arts has extended to the most remote parts of Europe and to the humblest classes. But, even in recent times, there are instances, in which, under the peculiar circumstances I have specified, it has produced disastrous effects on shore.

In the spring of 1795, it was general among the French soldiers in the army of the Alps; and in 1801, during the siege of Alexandria, it prevailed among the inhabitants and garrison to a most frightful extent. During the siege which was commenced by the English in May, and which lasted only to the end of August, 3,500 scorbutic patients were received into the military hospitals which the French had established in that city. But it is not only in armies, and during sieges, that we meet with even modern instances of scurvy arising on land. In the reports of the inspectors of prisons, for the years 1836, 7, and 8, there is frequent mention of its occurrence in our goals and prisons.

These examples are sufficient to show that Scurvy is not peculiar to sea-faring men; but it is, unquestionably, during long voyages that its fatal effects have been most felt, and its existence, as a prevalent disease, maintained.

The narratives of all our early navigators abound with descriptions of the frightful ravages of Scurvy. Vasco de Gama, who first discovered a passage to the East Indies by the Cape of Good Hope, in 1497, lost a hundred of his men, out of a hundred and sixty, by this distemper.

In the first voyage for the establishment of the East India Company the equipment, consisting of four ships, with 480 men, sailed from England on the 2nd of April, 1600; and by the time they arrived at Saldanha, on this side of the Cape of Good Hope, there had died of scurvy 105 men, nearly one fourth of their complement.

The memorable expedition under Lord Anson, in 1740 and the four following years, offers another example of the mortality formerly occasioned by Scurvy during long voyages. At the end of two years from

their leaving England, the vessels engaged in the expedition had lost, from this disease, a larger proportion than four in five of the original number of their crews.

Scurvy continued to prevail in all the fleets of this country, until the year 1795, when an Admiralty order was first given for furnishing the navy with a regular supply of lemon-juice, which had been long known to be a remedy for Scurvy, and which some recent experiments had proved to be equally efficacious in preventing it. From this time we may date the extinction of Scurvy in the British navy. It has, indeed shown itself on several occasions since, especially in some of the expeditions