CHAP. V.] POOLS OF WATER. 343 



fiords. The rocks are apparently of gneiss, 

 the strata of which dip, with a considerable 

 curve, to the northward." I may add to this 

 account, that the land behind rises into round 

 and high acclivities, which w r ere then in many 

 parts free from snow. By noon the ice a few 

 miles off assumed a more detached appear- 

 ance. Speculation as to when and where the 

 eagerly desired event of our liberation would 

 occur was now over, for it was evident that no 

 one could, with any show of reason, assign any 

 preference of place. The wind having set in 

 from the eastward slowly checked the outward 

 passage of the ice, though by the evening we 

 had altered the bearings of the different re- 

 markable bluffs and other projections more than 

 four points of the compass. 



During the whole of May 18th we remained 

 much in the same position between the Labrador 

 Coast and the Islands, the temperature at noon 

 being 36°, and 51°+ in the sun. 



May 19th. There was no alteration in the 

 ice, and the ship was almost in the same place. 

 About 6 h p.m. the ice commenced setting fast to 

 the eastward, and near the main land seemed to 

 be easing out. Numerous flocks of loons flew 

 towards the south, and one snow bunting was 

 seen. Pools of water formed from the melting 

 of the ice and snow around the ship. The wind 

 having veered round to the north-eastward 



z 4 



