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to penetrate the shore any distance inland, the surface being entirely composed of conical heaps of ice, with deep ravines intervening; and the short expeditions which were made by captain Hoppner and lieutenant Sherer, were made by coasting on the ice, and skirting the land to the southward and northward.

With the exception of these little excursions, in which the ship's crews were indulged as far as was consistent with their safety, the time was spent in gymnastic exercises, in dramatic representations, and in masquerades in each ship on alternate fortnights, into which it would seem a good deal of spirit and character was infused. The ordinary dress of the seamen, wrapped up as they were during the winter in their fleecy clothing, as a protection from the nipping severity of the weather, was in itself sufficiently grotesque; but when to this was superadded the more fantastic and gayer variations of costume of the officers, a very decent set of masks appears to have. been got up. The business, however, at length got monotonous and tiresome, notwithstanding the praiseworthy and considerate attention of the officers, and the constant supply of every thing which could administer to the health and comfort of their crews; and the return of summer in the present year, which detached the blockading masses of ice, was hailed with the most lively satisfaction by all hands. The ships got under weigh on the morning of the 20th of last July; but two days after, were driven back to Lancaster Sound by adverse weather, which drifted immense icebergs against their track. At this time it blew very fresh, but on the 24th they

succeeded in working down the western shore, which they were exploring, when they again encountered heavy floating masses of ice, and the Hecla was thrown very nearly on her beam-ends. These impediments continued with more or less danger until the 1st of August, when the Fury was driven on shore with great force by the impulse of the ice, and in such a situation that a bold perpendicular craggy cliff out-topped · her mast-head more than 500 or 600 feet. She was, however, with great difficulty, by the united exertions of both crews, removed a little from her situation of imminent peril, and hove down for repair in a more convenient spot; but on the 19th of August the situation of the Hecla herself became so critical, that it was absolutely necessary to change her position; or else she must have likewise drifted ashore; and the only alternative was, to abandon the Fury to her fate, after removing her crew, stores, &c.

At this time, the sea was getting tolerably clear; but captain Parry, under the circumstances of the shipwreck of the Fury, and the consequent alteration in the condition of the means of prosecuting his original object, determined upon returning to England without further delay. On the 1st of September, the homeward voyage began, and the necessity of this was the more regretted, because, for a day or two before, the ice was getting more detached, and there was in the distance, and between icebergs, a very clear prospect of comparatively safe sea-room, with (as the sailors say) a perceptible current setting in, which in their judgment denoted the proximity of an open ocean. The distant view in this

direction was studded with small islands, the position and shape of which exactly resembled that given by captain Franklin of the sea view he obtained, in the extreme point of his severe land-journey from Hudson's Bay.

Though there were no natives seen by our seamen during this expedition, there were abundant tracks to show that the inlet at Port Bowen was occasionally the resort of human beings, for the remains of artificial caverns were found in the snow, and fragments of culinary vessels of rude construction. Places were also explored, which, judging from their shape, and the decayed bones that were thinly scattered on the spot, appeared to be cemeteries.

Islands Discovered.-Extract from the agent to Lloyd's at Singapore, dated the 7th of September, 1824: "The Francis and Charlotte, arrived from the north-west coast of America, discovered three islands on her passage. The following is an extract from the master's log:- At daylight on the 26th of May, saw three islands, bearing due north by compass, distant 8 or 9 leagues. They are not laid down in any of the latest charts, nor mentioned in any modern work. Their size appeared small and their height moderate the one most western appeared in the horizon like a small hillock; the others, undulating and lower. The most eastern was the largest: the distance between them, 2 or 3 miles in an east north-east and west south-west direction. We had a good sight for the chronometer at 7 a. m., which places the islands in long. 114. 48. m., and the latitude (of this we cannot be equally certain) above 18. 11 north. Pro

bably the latitude is nearly correct, as they had an observation at noon, and the ship had been running due west. There can be no doubt of the longitude, as captain Johnson's chronometers are so good, that after being five months without an opportunity of ascertaining their rate, he made Pedro Branca to a mile. His lunars, also, were never ten miles different from the chronometers."

French Guyana.

- A commission, nominated by baron Milius, governor of French Guyana, set out some time since to explore the sources of the Oyapock and the Maroni. This commission returned on the 24th of January last; and though a variety of circumstances prevented the completion of its object, yet it proceeded a considerable distance from the mouth of the river Oyapock, and entered into an alliance with the tribe of the Oyampis. Ounanica, the chief of this tribe, took an oath of fidelity to the king of France. M. Bodin, commander of the French expedition, invested him with the uniform and insignia of captain, and during this ceremony, the French flag was hoisted by Ounanica, who gave a fête upon the occasion, enlivened by dancing. The tribe of Oyampis is composed of about 6,000 individuals, and is not far from that of the Emerillons, which is also very numerous. Among the useful things which were brought by baron Milius, is some cotton, cultivated by the Oyampis, which is extremely beautiful, and is said to be much superior to that of Cayenne and even of Pernambuco. In a great part of its course, the Oyapock is barred by cataracts and waterfalls, which in some places are at an immense elevation; one of these cataracts is

300 feet long and 80 high. M. Bodin has brought back a branch of a tree, called the galibis or carouachi, the leaf of which is a mortal poison. The difficulty which the Indians raised to M. Bodin taking this away, led him to believe that it is with the sap of this vegetable that they poison their arrows. Ounanica accompanied the expedition as far as Camopi; and Macarayou, another chief, confided his son, a youth, to M. Bodin, who brought him to Cayenne. The abbé Fournier, while with the Oyampis, baptized 49 children.

Tsad, which is an immense fresh water lake, visiting many towns and villages in his journey. The country to the southward of Fezzan may be considered as a new discovery, and extends from that place to about the ninth degree of latitude, between the sixth and fourteenth degrees of longitude east of Greenwich. It has hitherto been deemed impracticable to travel in any part of Africa as Christians until this time. Both these officers performed the journey as such, occasionally wearing their uniforms, and were deemed by many of the followers of Mahomet as curious The Interior of Africa. The personages. Ministers have conaccounts brought by captain Clap- sidered it an object of such imperton and major Denham from portance, as to again send another Soudan, and other places in the mission, placed under the direction interior of Africa which have been of captain Clapperton, in which he visited by these enterprising tra- will be assisted by captain Pearce vellers, is very satisfactory, and (also of the royal navy). The much valuable information relative Camelion sloop of war was prepared to the inhabitants has been obtain- at Portsmouth for their conveyance. ed. The surprise of the former Directions for vessels navigatgentleman may readily be conceiving the channels of Corfu." The ed, upon his reaching Sockatoo, in finding plates, dishes, basins, and other articles of English manufacture, with the makers' names marked thereon; and during his residence, which was nearly three months, he daily used wares of this description. The markets are regularly supplied, in addition to flour, with fine stall-fed beef, mutton, and kids; as also poultry, including wild ducks and geese, eggs, &c. The existence of this place, which is to the westward of Bornou, was before unknown; it is governed by a sultan, who has several wives, and many children, and with all the persons, about him evinced every attention to captain Clapperton. Major Denham proceeded to the south and east of Bornou, and examined the lake

Ionian government, desirous of affording every possible security and facility to vessels navigating the channels leading to Corfu, has caused to be erected four lighthouses, which are kept constantly lighted every night, from sun-set

to sun-rise.

"The first is on the old citadel of Corfu; it is a single light, 240 feet high, and can be seen from the entrance of the north channel, and some distance to the southward of Point Lefchimo, in the south channel it is particularly useful to guide ships to the harbour of Corfu.

"The second is a single floating light, moored off Point Lefchimo, in the south channel. The vessel lies in five fathoms water, one cable's-length N. W. by W. W. from the N. E. point of Lefchimo

shoal, and bears, from the windmill to the southward of Point Lefchimo, N. by W. W.; from the S. E. extremity of the island of Corfu, N. N. W. W.; from Black Island, N. 62 deg. W., or N. W. by W. W., distance eight miles; and from Corfu lighthouse, S. 35 deg. 30 min., E. or S. E. S. nearly, distance 10 miles. "The third is also a single light at the east side of the island of Payo, upon a small island at the entrance of Port Gayo. The light is upon a tower, which bears from the south end of Payo shoal W. 5 deg. S. or W. S. nearly; from the north end of ditto, W. 11 deg. S. or W. by S. nearly. The centre of the shoal is 1 miles distant from the light, and the S. E. point of Corfu bears from it N. by W. W.; S. E. extremity of Anti Payo, S. E. E.; Black Island, N. a little easterly; N. E. end of Payo, N. W. a little westerly. This light is particularly useful to the small coasting vessels running for Port Gayo (or what is more commonly called Payo harbour) in bad weather, as also to all vessels passing through the south channel. "The fourth is a single light on the rock Tignoso, in the entrance of the north channel. It is a most valuable light to vessels passing through this channel to guide them clear of the Boat and Sarpe rocks. The N. E. point of Corfu Island bears from it S. W. nearly; Corfu light shut in behind this point; the Sarpe rock bears from it S.; S. W. point of Albanian coast, S. by E.; Boat rock, E. nearly half a mile distant, with 16 and 20 fathoms water between them. S. W. extremity of the land about cape Linguetta N. W. N.; and the north point of the island Melue, W. by N. N. Just

open to the northward of the north point of Corfu."

Directions for the North Channel by night." In coming for this channel, when you make out the light, steer straight for it; and I would recommend all ships with a leading wind, to pass between the light and island of Corfu, to avoid the Boat rock, which is not larger (above water) than a small boat, bottom up, and has a shelving reef stretching off from it, N. W. N., about 120 fathoms, with from two to seven fathoms water upon it. This channel, between the light and Corfu, is six-tenths of a mile broad, with 30 fathoms water in the middle, and steep-to on both sides. After passing the light, steer S. E. by E., or E. S. E., bring the light to bear N. W. N., and keeping it on that bearing, will lead you clear of the Sarpe rock, which lies just to the southward of the N. E. point of Corfu. This is a very dangerous shoal by night, it being nearly level with the water, and so steep-to, that the lead is of no use. When you get sight of Corfu light, bring it to bear S. by W., and by keeping it so, it will lead you clear of all danger, and right up to the east end of the island of Vido, pass mile to the eastward of that island, then steer in, and anchor any where between the island and town of Corfu.

"Ships passing through the north channel with variable or a beating wind, will find it better to pass to the northward of the light, and then it must not be brought to the westward of S. W. by W. W. until you are a good mile to the eastward of it (to avoid the Boat rock), or until Corfu light bears S. by W.: when the north channel light bears W. a little southerly, it is on with the Boat

rock; and when the light bears W. N., you are well to the southward of the Boatrock. In beating through this channel, keep on the Albanian shore, it being all bold; and stand very little more than half channel over to the westward until you are well to the southward of the Sarpe rock.

"Vessels going to the northward will have no difficulty in observing these directions in a contrary order."

Directions for navigating the South channel.- "In coming from the southward of Payo, for the south channel, with southerly or south-westerly winds, you may pass between Payo shoal and light, or to the eastward of the shoal, at pleasure. To pass between the shoal and light, give Anti-Payo a good birth, and as soon as you open the light, bring it to bear N. W., or N. W. W., then steer for it, and keeping it on either of these bearings will lead you to the westward of the shoal; pass half a mile to the eastward of the light, and when it bears W. by S.S., you are to the northward of the shoal, and may keep away N. by W. W., or N. by W. When Payo light bears S. E., keep it on that bearing, and it will lead you well to the eastward of the buoy on the S. W. extremity of cape Bianco shoal. When the cape bears W. by S. S., or Black Island N. E. by E., you will be to the northward of the buoy, and may then steer N. W., or N. W. by N., according to the wind. You will then very soon get sight of Lefchimo light, which must not be brought to the northward of N. W. W. To keep you clear of Lefchimo shoal, which is a continuation of the one off cape Bianco, and runs along the east

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"In coming from the southward, it will most generally be advisable to pass to the eastward of Payo shoal; then keep in midchannel, or rather the Albanian coast on board, it being all bold, and may be approached within half a mile. When Payo light bears W. by S.

S., you are to the northward of the shoal. When working through the south channel, while well to the southward of Lefchimo light, you may stand to the westward until the light bears N. W.; but when within a mile of it, it must be brought to the northward of N. W. by W. W., to avoid the N. E. elbow of the shoal. The Albanian coast is all clear and bold to the southward of the light vessel; but after getting abreast of her, you must not stand within two miles of it, to keep clear of the Bacchante shoal. The Corfu side is then all clear, and you may stand well over towards it.

"All the above are to the nearest quarter of a point to the true bearings, or according to the poles of the world.

"The bearings and distances con

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