136 OFFICERS BUILD SNOW HOUSES. 



sailed without impediment (so far as we could 

 judge) from one extremity of Southampton 

 Island to the other. In the direction of Baffin 

 Island indeed, and to the north, the horizon was 

 still white with ice ; but the fact of our having 

 drifted so far from the land proved, beyond 

 question, the existence of a clear sea thereabouts: 

 and though no immediate advantage could be ex- 

 pected from this circumstance, yet in conjunction 

 with what was daily passing near us, it afforded 

 the hope of a departure early enough for 

 carrying into effect the objects of the expedition 

 in the course of the following year. To behold 

 the open water so near, without a possibility of 

 reaching it, was mortifying enough, but we made 

 a virtue of necessity, and suppressed our feelings. 

 The usual occupations in cleaning the holds, 

 re-stowing and getting provisions for six months at 

 hand, with other necessary duties, were followed 

 up on board ; whilst for the preservation of health, 

 a moderate share of walking or rather working 

 exercise was taken on the ice. The officers 

 found employment and amusement in building 

 snow houses for various purposes, and among 

 others for an observatory, instead of that which 

 had been already put up with a sail covering, too 

 valuable to be risked upon so uncertain a found- 

 ation. My plans, as to magnetical observations, 

 were for the present completely frustrated by 



