204 LAND-SPRINGS FLOWING. [July, 



day, the 24th, has overflowed, and the water now runs 

 rapidly, from the snow above ; in addition to which, se- 

 veral tufts of saxifrage, which have been barely denuded 

 of snow, have appeared in full bloom. 



Several brent-geese flew over our heads on their 

 northern migration ; a pair alighted, but were too wary 

 to permit any of our sportsmen to gain within range. 



During the process of clearing the dock for the ' Pio- 

 neer/ I repeated my experiments on the powers of the 

 men. Three men were engaged, one with a pick to 

 break up, and two with shovels to throw out. The ice 

 was received in a tarpaulin, and thrown aside as weighed. 

 In twenty minutes they turned out 17561bs., which is 

 at the rate of 2'3 tons for three men per hour, or 1756 

 Ibs. per man. These were indifferent men, taken with- 

 out regard to strength. 



July 2. During the last week it has continued to 

 blow with considerable force from east to south-south- 

 east, but as yet we have not been able to detect the 

 slightest movement of the ice ; indeed our first intimation 

 of any move in our favour must be from Beechey Island. 

 I strolled over the heights overlooking the channel yes- 

 terday, and obtained a very clear view of the distant 

 land near Cape Phillips, as well as the hill-tops of Hamil- 

 ton Island. My elevation was about eight hundred feet 

 above the sea, and Cape Phillips distant forty-five miles. 



The thaw has set in so vigorously, and the rapidity of 

 the inland torrents is so troublesome, that it is not safe 

 to cross many of the ravines. Even the passage from 

 the ship to the shore is becoming very troublesome, by 

 reason of the deep sludge and water retained within the 



