90 ASPECT OF CONTIGUOUS COAST. 



tinguished in the chart by the, to us, most 

 unappropriate name of Cape Comfort. Beyond 

 it, a low neck of land could be made out, run- 

 ning to the north, which was conjectured to be 

 Cape Bylot. Fife Rock bore N. E. There was 

 not, to use the ice mate's expression, " a sup 

 of water in sight." All our hopes, therefore, 

 rested on the uncertain chance of a westerly 

 breeze, uncertain only in such a season as this, 

 inasmuch as ordinarily the westerly and north- 

 westerly winds are the unfailing companions of 

 autumn in these latitudes. The barometer had 

 been for the last fortnight very steady, scarcely 

 varying with any difference of wind. At noon 

 the latitude was 65° 09', and longitude S2°5V W., 

 not more, therefore, than fifty miles from Duke 

 of York's Bay in Frozen Strait. The temperature, 

 which had at one time fallen to 23° + , rose again 

 to 28° + , wind N. E. 



The hours which usually brought some slight 

 alteration arrived, and passed away, leaving us as 

 we were, so that we were driven to infer that the 

 pressure from seaward had now attained its maxi- 

 mum, and that the compact and boundless field of 

 ice had vanquished tide and current, and was be- 

 come fixed and immoveable. A mild night suc- 

 ceeded, though at first overcast, yet by 10 h p. m. 

 some stars were seen, giving indications of a clear 



