OF THE POLAR SEA. 199 



impeded by the ice, and, at length, being unable 

 to force a passage through a close stream that 

 had collected round a cape, we put ashore at four 

 A.M. On the 24th, several stone fox-traps and 

 other traces of the Esquimaux were seen near to 

 the encampment. The horizontal refraction varied 

 so much this morning, that the upper limb of the 

 sun twice appeared at the horizon before it finally 



For the last two days the water rose and fell 

 about nine inches. The tides, however, seemed 

 to be very irregular, and we could not determine 

 the direction of the ebb or flood. A current 

 setting to the eastward was running about two 

 miles an hour during our stay. The ice having 

 removed a short distance from the shore, by 

 eleven A.M. we embarked, and with some diffi- 

 culty effected a passage ; then making a traverse 

 across Gray's Bay*, we paddled up under the 

 eastern shore against a strong wind. The in- 

 terpreters landed here, and went in pursuit of a 

 deer, but had no success. This part of the 

 coast is indented by deep bays, which are se- 

 parated by peninsulas formed like wedges, slop- 

 ing many miles into the sea, and joined by low 



* IVained after Mr. Gray, principal of the Belfast Academy, 

 island mIucIi lies across tlie month of this bay bears the name of 

 Eng^lish sailor Hepburn. 



