OF THE POLAR. SEA. 69 
waves beat with much violence during strong 
southerly winds. When the wind blows from 
the land, and the waters of the lake are low, a 
narrow sandy beach is uncovered, and affords a 
landing-place for boats. The shores of Lime- 
stone Bay are covered with small fragments of 
calcareous stones. During the night the Aurora 
Borealis was quick in its motions, and various 
and vivid in its colours. After breakfasting we 
re-embarked, and continued our voyage until 
three P.M., when a strong westerly wind arising, 
we were obliged to shelter ourselves on a small 
island, which lies near the extremity of the above- 
mentioned peninsula, This island is formed of 
a collection of small rolled pieces of limestone, 
and was remembered by some of our boatmen 
_ to have been formerly covered with water. For 
the last ten or twelve years the waters of the 
lake have been low, but our information did not 
enable us to judge whether. the decrease was 
merely casual, or going on continually, or pe- 
riodical. The distance of this island from Nor- 
way House is thirty-eight miles and a half. 
The westerly winds detained us all the morn- 
ing of the 9th, but, at two P.M., the wind chopped 
round to the éastward; we immediately em- 
barked, and the Gaae afterwards freshening, 
