360 ROOKERY AT CAPE SIMPKINSON. \Auyilst, 



four feet in thickness ! A very narrow neck of thin floe, 

 easily to be mastered if we could reach it, cut off our 

 communication with the lanes, constantly opening and 

 closing, but near to Port Refuge closely sealed. The in- 

 shore " lead" was not deep enough for the ship, being 

 barred at Cape Simpkinson by a rocky ledge, on which 

 two fathoms only could be attained. 



At this Cape we shot eight hares : five the first day, 

 and three the second. This therefore afforded some little 

 excitement, and the ship's company had permission to 

 share in the amusement, killing some hundred of kitti- 

 wakes and tern, with one hare and eight ptarmigan. 

 These cliffs are frequented by gulls, lummes, dovekies, 

 and other birds, which build their nests in rocky ledges 

 of the beetling cliff, in order to secure their young from 

 the depredations of foxes and other predatory animals, 

 and are generally, when sufficiently stocked, termed 

 "rookeries:" one at Cape Shackleton, in Melville Bay, 

 and another near Upernavick, are well known to the 

 whalers, as well as Arctic explorers. 



By some unaccountable peculiarity I make up my 

 mind to effect an object, at a moment when no chance 

 of its accomplishment is apparent ! Not that I would 

 attempt it against reason. The reverse : I rather spare 

 labour, when I can do so conscientiously. I took my 

 last survey of Port Refuge, killed several ducks and a 

 ptarmigan, and overlooked the principal features of Sir 

 Robert Inglis Bay from Mount Croker, situated at what 

 we had at first deemed the almost out-of-range depth 

 of Port Refuge, but to which access was now open by 

 water within the ice. From this height I discovered, 



