LAND IN A BAY. 397 



in the ice this morning was, that it had closed a 

 little to the east : no opening was seen by which 

 a passage could be made to the other side, until 

 about 10 a.m., when I fancied that with the 

 telescope I could make out a small lane bearing 

 N. W. The boat was immediately launched ; 

 and with sails and oars together we effected our 

 purpose in three hours and a half, having passed 

 on our way an island, to which has been given 

 the name of my companion Mr. King. We 

 landed in a small bay, as we supposed on the 

 main, not far from some old Esquimaux en- 

 campments, indicated by four wells or shafts for 

 the preservation of their meat. A party was 

 immediately despatched to examine the state of 

 the ice in a bay to the westward, while I walked 

 along the rocks to another point with the same 

 view; but the result of our examinations only 

 confirmed our worst fears, the ice being closely 

 packed as far as the eye could reach. However, 

 this also was drift ice, so that all hope was not 

 shut out, as a westerly wind might and probably 

 would clear a channel inshore ; but as there 

 was no immediate prospect of this, the breeze 

 being from the N. E., we unloaded, and hauled 

 the boat upon the beach to save her from being 

 crushed by the pressure of the ice. The dis- 

 tance travelled this day was about twelve miles 

 from shore to shore, and this may be considered 



