346 SNOW. [chap.v. 



would assuredly be required. It was observed 

 that we had gone more to the eastward in the 

 latter part of the day than during the whole of 

 the last fortnight, and as the evening closed 

 Nottingham Island bore astern, making that of 

 Salisbury more abeam. The wind veered half 

 round the compass and brought abundance of 

 snow, which continued without interruption 

 until noon of the 25th, when, from the obscurity 

 that prevailed, no land could be seen. The ice 

 looked white and wintry, the fresh- water pools 

 were all hard frozen ; and, with the solitary 

 exception of one opening, probably the effect of 

 the tide, the whole surface was again one 

 compact mass. The temperature was as low 

 as 22° + 5 wind westerly. 



By the 26th we had gone sufficiently to the 

 eastward, to be in sight of the extremity of 

 Salisbury Island as well as of a very high and 

 rocky part of the Labrador coast. On the 27th 

 the ship was set a little to the north-east, or 

 in a direction nearly across the straits. No 

 water was in sight, but immense flocks of 

 loons kept flying to the south. On the 28th 

 the weather was warmer but yet no lanes ap- 

 peared, though the entire body of ice had 

 assumed a more even appearance and was evi- 

 dently easing down. Two large birds like swans 

 flew past to the north. The temperature rose 

 at noon to 45° + . A couple of loons were 



