DH. KANE'S EXPEDITION. 515 



" 1. The survey and delineation of the north coast of 

 Greenland to its termination by a great glacier. 



"2. The survey of this glacial mass, and its exten- 

 sion northward into the new laud named Washington. 



"3. The discovery of a large channel to the north- 

 west, free from ice, and leading into an open and 

 expanding area, equally free. The whole embraces an 

 iceless area of four thousand two hundred miles. 



"4. The discovery and delineation of a large tract of 

 land, forming the extension northward of the American 

 continent. 



"5. The completed survey of the American coast to 

 the south and west, as far as Cape Sabine ; thus con- 

 necting our survey with the last determined position of 

 Captain Inglefield, and completing the circuit of the 

 straits and bay heretofore known at their southernmost 

 opening as Smith's Sound. )} 



The view of the open sea referred to was obtained 

 by William Morton, from a precipitous headland, the 

 furthest point attained by the party, in latitude 81 22' 

 N., and longitude 65 35' W., at an altitude of five 

 hundred feet above the sea. The reasons assigned by 

 our author for regarding it an iceless open sea are the 

 following : 



" 1. It was approached by a channel entirely free 

 from ice, having a length of fifty-two and a mean width 

 of thirty-six geographical miles. 



"2. The coast-ice along the water-line of this channel 

 had been completely destroyed by thaw and water- 

 action ; while an unbroken belt of solid ice, one hundred 

 and twenty-five miles in diameter, extended to the 

 south. 



" 3. A gale from the north-east, of fifty-four hours' 

 duration, brought a heavy sea from that quarter, with- 

 out disclosing any drift or other ice. 



