The Private Journal of Captain G. F. Lyon, of H.M.S. Hecla, during the Recent Voyage of Discovery under Captain Parry.
Lyon, George F.
London: John Murray, 1824.
Price:
$1,250.00
About the item
First edition. Folding map and seven plates. xiii,[1],468pp. Uncut. 8vo. Publisher's drab paper boards, paper lettering piece, joints starting, minor chips at the top and tail of spine. Arctic Bibliography 10531; TPL 1289; Field 961 (ref); Sabin 42853.
Item #378107
Lyon was commander of the Hecla on Parry's second expedition attempting to discover a northwest passage. The party surveyed Repulse Bay, Fury, and Hecla Strait, and spent two winters in the Arctic, gathering a great mass of scientific information on the region. The work is particularly interesting for its wealth of information about the native peoples.
"Almost the entire volume is devoted to the narration of the peculiarities of the Aborigines of the Arctic regions. Captain Lyon's curiosity led him to observe with great attention, the habits of life, and traits of character of the different tribes of Esquimaux, which his humanity, and good management attracted to his winter quarters. They built their villages near his ships, and permitted a closer familiarity, than any other of the Arctic voyagers was able to attain. His narrative, therefore, abounds with incidents of their intercourse, and curious anecdotes of Esquimaux life" - (Field)
"The expedition, Parry's second in the search for the north-west passage, sailed on 8 May 1821, entered the Arctic region through Hudson Strait, examined Repulse Bay and the neighbouring coast of Melville peninsula, and wintered at a small island to the eastward of the Frozen Strait. The next summer they went further north and entered Fury and Hecla Strait, but the season being then far advanced they turned back, wintered at Igloolik (lat. 69°21' N, long. 81°44' W), and came home in autumn 1823, as signs of scurvy among the crew made it inadvisable to stay. On 13 November Lyon was promoted captain, and the following year he published The private journal of Captain G. F. Lyon" (ODNB).
Rare in original publisher's boards.
