A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 177 



through the openings of the ice, making for the protection 

 of the point of Lievely, distant about four or five miles to 

 the S.E., and their various positions, the serenity of the 

 weather, and the magnificent brow of Disko, looking down 



from their extreme irregularity, scenes worthy of the strains of Ossian 

 may be witnessed. The interior of this part is totally unknown, as 

 the masters of whale ships, either from their owners' orders, or their 

 ov.n experience of danger, will never approach near to any flat land, 

 unless previously well known ; the transition from a low island to a 

 sunken rock being sudden. The Frow Islands are a favourite summer 

 retreat of the Uskees ; and there they construct their hunting tents 

 during June, July and August ; always retiring to some sheltered 

 situation on the higher lands, to remain for the winter. 



June 27: ther. 32°, 31°, 30°: wind W.S.W., fresh breeze: sailed 

 through a safe passage, between the outward islands, into an extensive 

 bay, at least fifteen miles over, north of the Frow Islands : latitude 

 observed, 73° 4' N. : the southern extremity of this bay I suppose to 

 be the Hope Saunderson of former voyagers ; it is distinguishable by 

 a remarkable rock above a low island, which rock has a diamond 

 summit : as this rock came into view in the forenoon, just as the snow 

 storm had begun to clear, it formed the centre of a landscape singularly 

 grand. To the right, southward, lay the Frow Islands in endless 

 variety of shape and distance, with volumes of fog rolling slowly over 

 theii- craggy summits ; Saunderson's Hope rising in the middle, some- 

 times belted with mist, soon after capped with the same transient 

 ornament ; and to the left, sweeping eastward and northward, the bay 



2 A 



