76 A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY 
without the help of that useful instrument? [ wish 
only that no greater obstacle than the want of 
compasses may impede us, and then I am sure that 
we shall accomplish our object ; but to leave the 
subject for time to prove, I shall briefly notice such 
circumstances as came under my observation to-day 
during my excursion on shore. 
The part of the coast where we landed, and, in- 
deed, every part of this land that we have yet seen, 
is, generally speaking, low near the sea-coast, and 
rising gradually inland ; but no part of it, as far as 
our view extended, rose to a sufficient height to be 
called mountainous. . It had very little snow on it, 
its appearance at a distance was very barren, and on 
getting to it we found that its distant prospect 
had not deceived us; for it was one of the most 
sterile spots that I have yet seen, even in the Arctic 
regions. Of vegetation, it could hardly be said that 
any existed; a few small tufts of grass along the 
banks of the streams, and, here and there, some 
stunted poppies, composed the chief part of the 
Flora of this place. Lichens might also be enumerated 
amongst the vegetable productions of this land, but 
as these are to be met with in every place where 
rocks exist, it can hardly be necessary to mention 
them. It also appeared to be very thinly inhabited 
by animals of any description; all that we saw were 
a couple of Ptarmigans (Tetrao Lagopus, Lin.), and 
a few Snow-buntings. We have reason to suppose, 
however, that some quadrupeds live on it, although 
we did not see any, for we found in a sort of cave, or 
excavation in one of the rocks, a quantity of white 
hair, or fur, which we supposed to be that of a fox ; 
and, in the same place, there were several seals’ 
bones, from which it may be concluded, that the 
