TO THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 259 
know that wolves and foxes pass the winter here, 
and neither of them appeared to be better provided 
for withstanding the cold, than the musk-ox ; and 
with respect to food, there is certainly much more 
grass in the valleys in this vicinity, than they can 
destroy this season. 
Friday, 25th.— We made an attempt again this 
evening, to get to the eastward, but from want of 
wind, and the closeness of the ice, we were obliged 
to make fast again, without having gained above a 
mile, after several hours’ labour. I made a cube of 
ice to-day, from a piece that was thrown up on the 
hummock to which we were fast; its sides mea- 
sured two feet, and when put into salt water with 
that side of it uppermost that the piece of ice from 
which it was made had up at the time, three 
inches and a half remained above the surface of 
the water, but when the opposite side was up only 
three inches appeared above the water. This was 
no doubt owing to one side of the cube being 
denser, and consequently heavier than the other ; 
in making it, indeed, I remarked, that the side 
that was uppermost of the piece of ice was the 
most porous. Although the weather is still re- 
markably fine, we have many indications of the 
approach of winter; the young ice continues to in- 
crease in thickness, and some of it was measured 
to-day that was three inches thick ; stars have also 
been seen about midnight for this week past, and 
many other things might be mentioned that tend 
to show that the close of this season is not very far 
distant. 
Saturday, 26th.— A fresh breeze sprang up 
sin2 
