322 BIEDS NOTICED IN OPEN WATER. [June, 



veiled, a dense curtain of fog capped the mountain. At 

 intervals the bright sun dispelled the vapours in particu- 

 lar directions, and permitted the most important distant 

 points to be taken. But I was not easily discouraged ; 

 and, determined to wait the pleasure of Dame Nature, 

 made up my mind to try her humours, at least for twelve 

 hours. Adopting a watch, I directed my meals to be 

 sent up, and a spirit-lamp to warm tea, cocoa, etc. 



From this commanding elevation (about eight hundred 

 feet) I had a good view of the changes which had oc- 

 curred. The water had made in great detached pools be- 

 tween us and Exmouth Island ; indeed some spaces af- 

 forded sufficient area to manoeuvre the Arctic Squadron. 

 Immediately beneath the base of our cliff, and continu- 

 ous to Star Bluff (about six miles), the ice had broken 

 off abruptly from the shore ice, leaving a vertical gla- 

 cier face of ten or fifteen feet, and within this only was 

 travel practicable. The boat certainly could pass ; but 

 the launching, hauling- up, lading and unlading, rendered 

 this mode of travel injudicious, as well as insecure : it 

 would further cause infinite delay, and at this moment 

 could not be risked. 



In the water beneath, but preserving a very respect- 

 ful distance, we noticed numerous brent-geese, eider- 

 duck, gulls, kittiwakes, and mollymoks, which our crews 

 were very anxious to try their luck with in the boat ; but 

 too much rotten ice intervened, and, with the heavy load 

 of provision we were now burdened with, it was pecu- 

 liarly necessary to husband strength and avoid risk. 



Inland in the valley gorge between this and Depot 

 Station, a vast lake communication appears to penetrate 



