TO THE ARCTIC REGIONS: 97 
season, being estimated to be at an average between 
eight and nine feet thick. It was observed to- 
day, that, as we came to the southward and west- 
ward, the compasses became more sluggish again in 
their motion, so that it may be presumed we are 
again approaching the magnetic Pole. 
Tuesday, 24th. — I omitted to mention, that when 
we were abreast of the two islands described yester- 
day, there was a long piece of land to the south- 
ward of us, which ran in a direction nearly east and 
west. The distance between this land and the 
islands is, as near as we could estimate, about 
thirty miles. We never came close enough to it 
to be able to say any thing respecting it, farther 
than that it resembled the land on the west side 
of the inlet that runs to the southward in the 
ninetieth degree of west longitude, which has already 
been described ; and, from the trending of the north 
side of that land, as far as we could ascertain, it is 
probable that what we saw yesterday is a continu- 
ation of it; but as this isa matter of very little con- 
sequence to us, it is ummecessary to say any more 
on the subject. 
To commence then with an account of the occur- 
rences of the day, I have to relate that we have 
had another fine run to the westward ; for we were 
at noon in longitude 98° W., and we have every 
prospect of advancing, indeed, more so, if possible, 
than we ever had before. With the exception of 
some streams of ice to the southward and westward 
of us, there is an open sea, as far as our view extends. 
In addition to that, another circumstance occurred 
to-day, from which, I think, a favourable conclusion 
H 
