TO THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 25S 
penetrate from the most elevated situation in this 
neighbourhood, and leaving, as before, no clear 
space except a few pools, and small lanes. 
Wednesday, 16th. — Without digressing much 
from the subject of my narrative, I may here re- 
mark, that the reason generally given, why so 
much heavy ice should lie off this part of the 
coast, is, because we are near the west end of this 
island, so that the ice which comes from the north- 
ward lodges here. The land which we see to the 
southward and westward may be considered also 
as another locality that tends to keep this place 
always hampered with ice. In consideration of 
these circumstances, the advanced period of the 
season, and perhaps other reasons which it is nei- 
ther my business nor intention to enquire into, the 
object of prosecuting our voyage to the westward, 
in this parallel of latitude, has to-day been aban- 
doned. And by a general order to the officers who 
keep watch, it appears that our object now is to 
endeavour to get to the southward, for they are 
required to keep a good look-out for any opening 
that may appear amongst the ice in that direction. 
We therefore cast off from the ice at half past two 
o’clock in the afternoon, and made sail to the east- 
ward, not without some feelings of regret and dis- 
appointment, at being at length obliged to abandon 
our hopes of a passage, where we had at one time 
so much reason to expect our endeavours to be 
crowned with success. I am fully persuaded, how- 
ever, that every person who will take the trouble 
of making himself acquainted with the events of 
