REMOTEST DISCOVERIES. 419 



discomforts was added the want of fire, and 

 almost of fresh water, though the precaution of 

 filling our kegs from the scanty oozing of the 

 shallow rills but just discernible in the sand had 

 not been forgotten. As it was the first quarter 

 of the moon, and just about the change, many 

 an anxious glance was cast at the sky to wind- 

 ward, in hopes of discovering some token of more 

 genial weather ; and at length a gleam of sun- 

 shine broke through the murky clouds, and 

 partly dried our wet and chilly clothes. In our 

 situation even this was counted a blessing, and 

 diffused a cheerfulness which, notwithstanding 

 past disappointments, renewed the hope of better 

 times. Soon, however, the dark clouds began 

 again to gather, and, as the sun dipped below the 

 northern ice, all was cold and humid as before. 

 The exploring party returned at 11 p.m., and 

 reported that, with hard labour, they had been 

 able to follow the land for fifteen miles, and had 

 gained a green hill about seventy or eighty feet 

 high, which, being the most remarkable feature 

 in that flat desert of sand, was named Mount 

 Barrow, after Sir John Barrow, Bart., whose 

 name is inseparably connected with modern dis- 

 covery in the polar regions. From the summit 

 of this height an immense opening was seen, 

 fifteen miles wide, whose extreme bearings were 

 S. W. fifteen, and N.N.W. thirty miles. It was 



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