190 DESOLATION OF THE LAND. [CHAP.IV. 



being placed directly across, or almost at right 

 angles to each other. The intervals between 

 the rocks as well as the hills consisted entirely 

 of what in summer would be a coarse loose 

 shingle with rounded stones, and with so little 

 soil, that only in five or six places did I observe 

 any symptoms of vegetation, if short thin grass 

 and a few yards of moss even deserve the name. 

 From the top of the nearest range a small 

 lake was visible, which discharged itself over 

 some steep rocks into a narrow bay or harbour, 

 whose entrance lay between the ship and the 

 headland. It seemed to be covered with smooth 

 bay ice, or ice not yet broken up, but it was evi- 

 dently exposed to the north-east winds. From 

 the brink of the headland, along the tops and 

 curvatures of the inland country, was an uninter- 

 rupted line of utter barrenness and desolation. 

 Not a bird, not an animal, not a solitary foot- 

 print, was there to indicate the presence of a 

 living creature. Not far from the headland was 

 what looked like a narrow lane of water, while 

 in the remote distance in the direction of Fox's 

 channel I fancied there was the loom of land, 

 which considering how greatly objects are re- 

 fracted in this climate, was not impossible. 



On my return, I learned that at 2 h 55™ p. m. 

 Doctor Donovan and Mr. Mould had seen an 

 extraordinary meteor in the clear blue sky, at the 



