TO THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 71 
on along the edge of the ice, in readiness to take 
advantage of the first opening that would be discover- 
ed when the weather cleared up; but to our disap- 
pointment, when this happened (between five and six 
o’clockin the evening), we found that the ice extended 
from the island mentioned last night to the north 
land, a distance of about thirty miles. This body of 
ice appeared so compact that it would be folly to 
attempt to force through it, more especially as it 
extended to the westward farther than we could see ; 
we had the satisfaction, however, of not observing any 
land beyond it in that direction. We had no other 
choice then but to remain inactive, looking at the slow 
dissolution of this immense barrier of ice; or proceed 
to the southward in hopes of finding a passage to the 
westward in that direction. As the latter route 
(although not leading so directly to the westward) 
afforded more immediate employment, and, at the 
same time, prospect of success, it was determined to 
try what could be done by shaping our course to the 
southward and westward. As we were sailing along 
the edge of the ice, we discovered another island, 
about six or seven miles to the southward and west- 
ward of that seen last night ; and about the same dis- 
tance, farther on in that direction, more land appear- 
ed. ‘The whole of the space between these islands 
and the- land just mentioned was full of ice, which 
extended indeed for several miles to the eastward of 
them, so that we could not approach within some 
distance of either the one or the other. These islands, 
as well as the land beyond them, have very much the 
appearance of that which I have been describing 
yesterday ; the islands in particular appeared to rise 
almost perpendicularly from the sea to the height of 
EF 4 
