82 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. IV. 



which led Parry to conclude that little or no sleet or 

 snow had fallen since his former visit. 



On the 1st of August the ships entered upon that 

 portion of the voyage, which was to determine the 

 success or failure of the expedition— that magnificent 

 piece of water called Sir James Lancaster's Sound. 

 An easterly breeze and a crowd of sail carried the 

 ships rapidly to the westward. On the morning of 

 the 2nd, it being calm, soundings were taken with 

 the deep-sea clams, and one thousand and fifty 

 fathoms by the line were found ; but the drift being 

 considerable on account of the swell, Parry believes 

 that the depth of water did not exceed eight or nine 

 hundred fathoms. The sea was open before them, 

 free from ice and land. Lieutenant Parry says, 



" It is more easy to imagine than to describe the almost 

 breathless anxiety which was now visible in every counte- 

 nance, while, as the breeze increased to a fresh gale, we ran 

 quickly up the sound. The mast-heads were crowded by the 

 officers and men, during the whole afternoon ; and an un- 

 concerned observer, if any could have been unconcerned on 

 such an occasion, would have been amused by the eagerness 

 with which the various reports from the crow's nest were 

 received, all however hitherto favourable to our most san- 

 guine hopes." — p. 31. 



They were soon relieved from their anxiety re- 

 specting the supposed continuity of land, which had 

 been stated in the most peremptory manner to 

 extend across the bottom of this magnificent inlet 

 in which they were sailing ; having reached the 



