1853.] I,\M) ON TIIK WESTERN ISLAND. 305 



inclined to sleep, but law-makers must set a good ex- 

 ample. 



Two islands, equidistant, one northerly, the other 

 westerly, presented for selection ; anxious however to 

 obtain further intelligence, if possible, of the boundary 

 of North Cornwall, I decided to push for the western, 

 suspecting, from a very deceitful haze which prevailed, 

 that open water, or moist floe, which was worse, inter- 

 vened between us and that to the northward. 



On the evening of the llth we pushed on westerly, in 

 high spirits, until reaching a heavy ridge of hummocks, 

 which at first sight seemed to offer serious obstruction ; 

 but its outline having been overcome, revealed merely 

 the result of a severe nip, beyond which the smooth floe 

 again prevailed. 



About seven A.M. we pitched, with the sun bright, 

 very oppressive, and biting severely, the temperature in 

 the shade being from 22 to 28 ; the natural result was 

 that all our objects were shrouded in misty vapour, tan- 

 talizing us by the vision of the bases only of points, 

 bays, etc. Our latitude was 77 8' N. At 6.30 we 

 advanced towards our island, at that time the only ob- 

 ject visible, hoping to reach it before midnight ; in this 

 however we were disappointed by the obstruction offered 

 by the belt of island pack, which delayed us until two 

 A.M., when we pitched on terra jirma and hoisted the 

 Union. Possession being taken, we lunched, and com- 

 menced the ascent of the nearest elevation, and there 

 established the instruments. 



Before proceeding further it may be as well to describe 

 this " belt of island pack," for clearly it can only result 



VOL. i. x 



