The Last of the Arctic Voyages
Being a Narrative of the Expedition in HMS Assistance, under the Command of Captain Sir Edward Belcher, C.B., in Search of Sir John Franklin, during the Years 1852–54

This 1855 publication by the leader of an unsuccessful search for missing Arctic explorers describes the harsh conditions they encountered.

Edward Belcher (Author)

9781108028882, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 30 June 2011

452 pages, 35 b/w illus. 3 maps
24.4 x 17 x 2.3 cm, 0.72 kg

When the experienced Arctic explorer Sir John Franklin (1786–1847) was put in command of an expedition in 1845 to search for the elusive North-West Passage he had the backing of the Admiralty and was equipped with two specially-adapted ships and a three-year supply of provisions. Franklin was last seen by whalers in Baffin Bay in July 1845. When the expedition failed to return in 1848, enormous resources were mobilised to try to discover its fate. In 1852 H.M.S. 'Assistance' was sent to lead another search mission. It was captained by Edward Belcher (1799–1877), who eventually took the decision to abandon four ships in the pack-ice. He recounts his unsuccessful adventure, defending his actions against critics, in this illustrated two-volume book, first published in 1855, which also includes scientific contributions. Volume 1 describes Belcher's outward journey, Arctic animals such as walruses and whales, and the effects of extreme cold.

Preface
Preliminary
1. At sea
2. Anchor at Upernavik
3. Native dogs
4. Frozen in
5. Retreat
6. The 'Assistance'
7. Transit telescope
8. Short days
9. Rise of temperature
10. The cairn
11. Inconvenient elevation
12. Hamilton Depot
13. Open water
14. First symptom of winter.

Subject Areas: Historical geography [HBTP]