TO THE ARCTIC REGIONS, 99 
usually had it: — we sounded several times to-day in 
from thirty to forty fathoms water, when at least 
seven or eight miles from the land. 
Thursday, 26th. —The wind still continues to. blow 
from the northward and westward, so that all the 
ground we have gained for these two days has been 
by beating to windward between the land and the 
ice, which we find extends in a compact body to the 
westward, at the distance of between four and five 
leagues from the islands to the northward. In some 
places indeed this channel of clear water is much 
narrower, but the ice does not in any place, as far 
as we have yet seen, join the land, and I think it is 
probable that as long as we find land to the north- 
ward to stop the polar ice from drifting down upon 
us, we shall always find a passage to the west- 
ward along the land. I do not mean, however, to 
say that a passage will without any interruption be 
constantly found to exist between the land and the 
ice; on the contrary, I am aware that a southerly 
wind may give us occasional checks, by forcing the ice 
in with the coast, but immediately the wind changes 
to the opposite direction it will necessarily have the 
contrary effect. This is not indeed a matter of spe- 
culation, nor do I intend it to be considered as such, 
for both this and last year’s experience has afforded 
us so many instances of the truth of what I have 
said, that I have no hesitation in giving it as my 
opinion that the vicinity of land to the northward 
will always be in our favour. My reason for being 
so particular on this point is, because there are some 
amongst us of quite a different opinion. 
Friday, 27th. — We had a slant of wind in our 
H 2 
