46 PASSAGE UP 



1824, The wind was w.n.w. all the 18th, and 

 August, having passed two heavy streams of ice, the 

 day was occupied in working to windward. 

 It had been evident for two days past, that 

 every stream of ice we had seen, whatever its 

 magnitude or extent, trended due north-west 

 and south-east ; a strong indication of a perpe- 

 tual current in that direction ; and, as a farther 

 confirmation of this remark, the shoal of yes- 

 terday, as well as the ice which floated above 

 it, lay in precisely the same bearing ; and, as 

 the bank was of soft sand, it may be in- 

 ferred that it had been deposited by the tides. 

 The fact of our not having again seen any 

 walrusses, and entered into the usual deep 

 soundings, shews that the shoal cannot be ex- 

 tensive ; and it is to be regretted, that the 

 Griper's very dull sailing did not admit of my 

 devoting a few hours to its full examination ; 

 but having obtained satisfactory sights, we 

 were enabled to lay down its position very ac- 

 curately. At thirty minutes after nine P.M., 

 we stood off the land, to which we had ap- 

 proached within two miles, and while in stays 

 had no bottom with one hundred and thirty 

 fathoms. Although the wind continued foul 

 all this night and throughout the 19th, the 

 smooth water enabled us to work slowly along 



