OF THE POLAR SEA. a 
Not having encountered any of the ice, which 
usually arrests the progress of ships in their out- 
ward passage through the Straits, and being con- 
sequently deprived of the usual means of reple- 
nishing our stock of water,whichhad become short, 
the Captain resolved on going to the coast of La- 
brador fora supply. Dr. Richardson and I gladly 
embraced this opportunity to land, and examine 
this part of the coast. Iwas also desirous to 
observe the variation on shore, as the azimuths, 
which had been taken on board both ships since 
our entrance into the Straits, had shewn a greater 
amount than we ‘had been led to expect; but, 
unluckily, the sun became obscured. The beach 
consisted of Jarge rolled stones of gneiss and 
Sienite, amongst which many pieces of ice had 
grounded, and it was with difficulty that we ef- 
fected a landing ina small cove under a steep 
cliff. These stones were worn perfectly smooth ; 
neither in:thé interstices, mor-at.the-betiom’ ofthe 
water, which was very clear, were there any ves- 
tiges of sea-weed. 
The cliff was from forty to fifty feet high and 
icular, and had at its base a small 
slip of s0il:dorted:of the:idebris of: bed of ¢ ‘y- 
slate. From-this narrow spot Dr. 
collected specimens of thirty sect tienen: of 
plants; and we were about to scramble up a 
