CHAP. V.] IMPROVEMENT IN CREW'S HEALTH. 341 



point of view on the 10th of May. It was 

 remarked that a lower continuation of land ran 

 beyond it, and now, a still more sloping part 

 ended in what, judging from some grounded and 

 up-turned pieces of ice lying off it, we imagined 

 to be a shoal. However, we were evidently 

 drifting clear between it and Digge's Islands, 

 which from the mast-head were seen to bear 

 directly astern, but the main land was not 

 visible. Countless flocks of loons, ducks, and 

 teal were winging their way to the northward, 

 all flying low, and what struck me as strange 

 and unusual, there was not a single one to be 

 found on the water ; for though they not unfre- 

 quently passed across and round it, as if tempted 

 to bathe and sport awhile, yet restrained, as it 

 seemed, by some more powerful motive, they 

 pressed onward to their destination. At noon 

 the temperature was 36° + , and even in the 

 night, under the influence of the north-west 

 wind, it only fell to 26°. Upon inspection by 

 the medical officers the crew were reported to 

 be in reasonably good health : one alone was 

 unable to do duty, though three or four more, 

 perfectly well in other respects, had not yet 

 recovered the complete use of their limbs. 

 Indeed, Barker's leg was as inflexible as stone. 

 As the sky cleared we were rather surprised to 

 find ourselves full in sight of Digge's Group, 



z 3 



