192 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. VI. 



of the floes, and in that helpless state swept away 

 with the flood- tide and current to the southward, 

 and drifted back again to Southampton Island, as 

 had happened to them before, and thus again would 

 the labour of weeks be inevitably lost. By the 

 12th of July, however, after long and unremitting 

 perseverance, and by taking advantage of every 

 opening and breeze of wind to move the ships to 

 the northward, they had reached the latitude of 

 67° 18', opposite to a considerable opening in the 

 land, out of which a strong current was observed to 

 set into the sea. It had not the least appearance 

 of a passage ; but as it offered a security against 

 any ice coming in, Parry determined to anchor as 

 near it as possible, and to examine what he justly 

 supposed to be a fresh-water river; and a fresh- 

 water river, as may be supposed, was too great a 

 luxury as well as novelty in a region of ice and 

 snow to be slightly passed over. The boats of both 

 ships were therefore employed in landing parties to 

 partake of this oasis in the desert. 



" Landing on the south shore and hauling the boats up 

 above high-water mark, we rambled up the banks of the 

 stream, which are low next the water, but rise almost im- 

 mediately to the height of about two hundred feet. As we 

 proceeded we gradually heard the noise of a fall of water ; 

 and being presently obliged to strike more inland, as the 

 bank became more precipitous, soon obtained a fresh view 

 of the stream running on a much higher level than before, 

 and dashing with great impetuosity down two small cata- 



