194 ROSS'S SECOND VOYAGE. 



age. Koss conceives that his little bark, merely by its 

 moderate draught of water, was much better fitted for 

 such a navigation than the larger vessels employed in 

 previous expeditions, and that those of Parry would 

 have been shattered to pieces by the rocks over which 

 the Victory was carried in safety. 



On several points of this coast they observed Esqui- 

 maux tents, at one place twenty in number, but none 

 of the natives. Many whales appeared on the surface 

 of the water close to them, without showing any appre- 

 hension of man. 



Among the leading features of the coast was Brent- 

 ford Bay, of considerable extent, with some fine harbors, 

 thirty miles beyond Cape Garry. Here the captain 

 landed, displayed his colors, and, drinking the king's 

 health, took possession, in his majesty's name, of the 

 land, to which he gave the name of Boothia. 



Under all impediments, in the course of August and 

 September, he worked his way along three hundred 

 miles of undiscovered coast, and to within two hundred 

 and eighty miles of the point which Franklin had 

 reached. Here the land, taking a westerly direction, 

 seemed to afford the fair promise of a passage between 

 the country now surveyed and the continent of America. 

 But, by the end of September, snow began to fall thick ; 

 the thermometer sank far below the freezing-point, while 

 ice in large masses was closing around them. They 

 therefore considered themselves fortunate when, in a 

 spacious bay between a rocky island and two icebergs, 

 they found a station in Felix Harbor, in w^ich, after 

 due arrangements, they could reckon on passing the 

 dreary season in security. 



On the 7th of October, by sawing through the ice, 

 the vessel was placed in the position where it could be 

 most advantageously lodged for the winter. On the 



