154 A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY 
we should choose * for our winter-quarters, had we 
time to look about for a better ; but under present 
circumstances we may consider ourselves fortunate, 
in finding that there is such a good harbour within 
our power to reach, for the winter is making rapid 
strides. There is, indeed, very little of the surface 
of the sea now that is not covered with ice, and close 
in to the land it is already from four to six inches 
thick, all along the coast, so that we shall have to 
saw our way into the harbour. The people who 
were away sounding to-day, saw several seals, which 
are the only animals of any kind that have been seen 
during these two days past. 
Friday, 24th.— We got under weigh early this 
morning, and ran to the westward to the mouth of the 
harbour intended for our winter residence, where we 
anchored about eight o’clock. Immediately after 
breakfast the crews of both ships commenced sawing 
a channel into the harbour, in which operation they 
were pretty successful, having before six o’clock 
P.M., made a canai thirty-five feet in breadth, and up- 
wards of half a mile long, into which the ships were 
tracked in the evening. The thickness of the ice 
through which they cut to-day, was from seven to 
eight inches. It is intended to resume the same 
operation to-morrow, for the harbour is at least three 
miles in length; and I understand the intention is 
to get within about half a mile of the top. It has 
been sounded so far to-day, and it was thus ascertain- 
* After getting into this harbour, and after having had time te 
examine it more minutely, we found it to be as secure a place te 
winter in as we could wish for, as will be seen hereafter. 
