IRBY AND MANGLES' BAY. 393 



course not desirable to get hampered with the 

 western ice, yet I determined to keep it in sight 

 until we should be able to effect a crossing to the 

 main shore beyond it. Some small islands were 

 seen to our left, after which we opened a spacious 

 bay five or six miles deep, and very broad (called 

 after Captains Irby and Mangles, the Eastern tra- 

 vellers), which it took us between three and four 

 hours to traverse. At this time there was every 

 reason to anticipate a prosperous issue of our 

 voyage westward within ten days, even though 

 less distances should be made than during the 

 last ten hours ; but as we n eared a projecting 

 barren rock, about eight hundred feet high, form- 

 ing the northern point of the bay (and which has 

 been designated Point Beaufort, after the present 

 distinguished hydrographer of the navy), drift 

 ice came round it so suspiciously quick, that we 

 found it prudent to land for the purpose of se- 

 curing the boat from damage by hauling her on 

 the shelving part, where alone it was possible. 

 Eagerly did I clamber up the slippery sides, in 

 the hope of beholding from the height a free 

 and open sea ; but the first glance as I topped 

 the crest was sufficient to chill that hope, and a 

 careful inspection with the telescope produced 

 the unwelcome conviction that our future progress 

 must be worked out by slow and laborious efforts. 

 From the horizon to within two miles of where 



