a2 A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY 
between two and three hundred feet ; they had very 
little snow on them, their top or surface being, like 
the land alluded to, almost level. In this respect, 
however, the land to the southward and westward of 
them differed from them very materially, for the in- 
terior of it, at least that part of it that bounded our 
view, rose toa considerable height, and the hills that 
composed it were well covered with snow ; its sur- 
tace was, however, generally speaking, smooth, that 
is, free from rocks or abrupt precipices. The depth 
of water off these islands corresponds (as I have ge- 
nerally observed to be the case) with the boldness of 
the coast, for we sounded in the forenoon in one hun- 
dred and thirty-five fathoms (soft mud), and in the 
afternoon it increased to one hundred and seventy- 
five fathoms, the same sort of bottom. Although we 
are at present checked a little by the ice, our hopes 
of success had reason to be increased by a certain 
circumstance that was observed to-day. The cir- 
cumstance I allude to is the vast number of white 
whales (Beluga, Lin.) that were seen in the course of 
the day, from which it is not unreasonable to conclude 
that there is a passage from where we are, as far at. 
least as M‘Kenzie’s river, as that traveller mentions 
his having seen them there. People inclined to be 
sceptical, however, would probably consider this cir- . 
cumstance as of little or no importance, and perhaps 
not at all deserving of being noticed in the light in 
which I have mentioned it; but as I am not a cold 
speculator, disregarding every thing except facts that. 
amount almost toa positive proof, I hope to be excused. 
for mentioning such circumstances as these, though. 
they may be attributed to my confidence of success. 
As there was nothing particular doing in the forenoon, 
a couple of boats were sent to try if they could kill 
