1855.] DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAND. 105 



simply named Red Island ; but this being the anniver- 

 sary of Lord Exmouth's action at Algiers, I took pos- 

 session, with the customary forms, under the title of 

 Exiuouth Island, which our observations place in lat. 

 77 15' N., long. 95 50' W. 



The western peak I had before selected from Pioneer 

 Island as my principal station, and from this command- 

 ing height I had long anticipated a magnificent view 

 of any lands which might fringe the distant horizon. 

 Such were my calculations when I went to rest; the 

 morning of the 28th was bright and cheering, and, 

 buoyed by hope, gladly did I avail myself of the sun 

 for the requisite observations for securing my position ; 

 but in these latitudes time, in every sense, is precious. 

 Trusting to present appearances, I did not ascend the 

 mount until afternoon ; and just as I gained the summit, 

 and not without considerable labour, fog the result of 

 our fine forenoon enveloped us, cutting off all objects 

 beyond three miles. We constructed two cairns, and 

 continued to wander about the summit, and watch most 

 anxiously until eight at night, for some glimpse; but 

 snow-drift increasing, and temperature falling to 2.2, we 

 returned to the beach disappointed. 



The bay ice was forming fast, the tide of ebb running 

 strong to the east, past this island, and towards a new 

 channel or sea, to which, as yet, we had not traced land ; 

 it was simply a continuation of Jones' Sound, in ima- 

 gination. The flood set due west ; both tides had a 

 velocity, taking the masses of ice carried to windward 

 as a criterion, of two knots. 



Recent marks of deer were noticed, both on the sum- 



