268 NAUTICAL ARTISTS. [CHAP.V. 



the fact of our being driven to this distance from 

 Frozen Strait, explains at once how it was that 

 Sir E. Parry saw so much open water off Winter 

 Harbour. In all probability it was at this very 

 moment equally free from all but young ice, as 

 the prevalent winds would have cleared it from 

 every more solid impediment. At l h p. m. the 

 black thermometer was 43° + . The ice con- 

 tinued perfectly still, and the day being fine, some 

 of the men amused themselves by cutting out 

 figures from blocks of snow, bringing them as 

 they were finished within a few feet of the star- 

 board bow, and depositing them on a smooth 

 piece of solid ice for exhibition. The oddity of 

 the grouping provoked a smile. The most con- 

 spicuous figure was that of a female, favoured with 

 a most liberal allowance of bust, arms akimbo, a 

 very slender waist, great deficiency of hips, and 

 legs deplorably curtailed. Injustice however to 

 the delicacy of the artist, it ought to be observed 

 that the limbs were supposed to be enveloped in 

 a straight tight gown, ornamented with a fringed 

 apron falling so low as to disclose only the sub- 

 stantial feet and still more substantial ankles. 

 Grouped around this principal personage, were 

 various little boys in hats and trowsers ; houses, 

 forts, vessels; and a heavy piece of ordnance, 

 doubtless intended as the symbol and guarantee 

 of her sovereignty. She was attended, moreover, 



