144 PARRY'S SECOND VOYAGE. 



duck, the golden plover, and the snow bunting spread- 

 ing their wings, produced a gay and delightful scene. 

 On the 14th they reached the island of Amitioke, which 

 had been described as situated near the strait they were 

 then endeavoring to attain. 



The discoverers now proceeded northwards, and saw 

 before them a bold and high range of coast, apparently 

 separated from that along which they were sailing. 

 This feature, agreeing with the indications of Iligliuk, 

 flattered them that they were approaching the strait 

 exhibited by her as forming the entrance into the Polar 

 Basin. They pushed on, full of hope and animation, and 

 were further cheered by reaching the small island of 

 Igloolik, which she had described as situated at the very 

 commencement of the passage. Accordingly, they soon 

 saw the strait stretching westward before them in long 

 perspective ; but, alas ! they discovered at the same 

 moment an unbroken sheet of ice from shore to shore, 

 crossing and blocking up the passage ; and this not a 

 loose accidental floe, but the field of the preceding 

 winter, on which the midsummer sun had not produced 

 the slightest change. Unable to advance, they amused 

 themselves with land excursions in different directions ; 

 and Parry at length determined, on the 14th August, 

 with a party of six, to undertake an expedition along the 

 frozen surface of the strait. 



The journey was very laborious, the ice being some- 

 times thrown up in rugged hummocks, and occasionally 

 leaving large spaces of open water, which it was neces- 

 sary to cross on a plank, or on pieces of ice, instead of 

 boats. In four days they came in view of a peninsula 

 terminated by a bold cape, the approach to which was 

 guarded by successive ranges of strata, resembling the 

 tiers or galleries of a commanding fortification. The 

 party, however, scrambled to the summit, whence they 



