TO THE ARCTIC REGIONS. Q4.8 
Saturday, 5th. — We got this forenoon abreast 
of the high land, where we were stopped by the 
ice last autumn ; the wind having failed us about 
noon, a party went ashore to make observations, 
&c. They found the rocks here to consist of 
sandstone, as on all other parts of this island, 
where we have yet landed. The sorrel, and 
other plants brought on board, were considerably 
larger than those of the same kind that we picked 
about Winter Harbour, most probably owing to 
the more favourable situation in which they grew; 
being well sheltered from the northerly wind by 
the high land, and having a southerly aspect. It 
appears that this part of the coast is well stocked 
with hares, for they saw four during the short 
time they were on shore; a glaucous gull, and a 
raven were also seen. At six o’clock in the even- 
ing we got to the edge of a loose stream of heavy 
ice; but as we advanced into it, it became closer, 
and at a quarter before nine it was found to be so 
compact that there was. no possibility of getting 
through it. We therefore made fast to some 
hummocks, about twenty yards from the beach, 
in from seven to nine fathoms’ water. We had not 
been above an hour or two fast, when we ascertained 
that the ice had closed in with the land, both to the 
eastward and westward. Our situation, therefore, 
was not deemed to be by any means safe; for the 
ice was driving to the westward with considerable 
velocity, and our only protection against it was a 
low point of land, that lay to the eastward of us. 
Whilst the ice ran to the westward, however, this 
point sheltered us very well ; but, in the event of 
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