262 A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY 
and finally he informed them, that whenever this 
last resolution should be determined on, they 
shouldbe again put on full allowance of provi- 
sions. 
Monday, 28th. — Our progress to the eastward 
still continues to be very rapid ; we were to-day at 
noon in latitude 74° 58’ N. and nearly in longitude 
100° W. . The sea is quite open to the eastward, 
but to the southward it is completely covered with 
ice. This ice, and all that we have passed 
on this side of Winter Harbour, has been, com- 
pared to that to the westward, very light, and in 
other respects quite of .a different character; as 
its surface is perfectly smooth, and appears to be 
one continued floe altogether, or, more properly 
speaking, one extensive field; for, if 1 am not 
mistaken, the distinction between the two terms 
is, that a floe may be seen over, but if it should be 
of such a size as not to be seen across, it is called a 
field. Ifthis definition is correct, then the ice 
that we have been passing during these two days 
comes under the latter denomination, for we have 
never seen water beyond it. 
All the land that we have passed to-day is com- 
pletely covered with snow that looks to have 
fallen lately, for near the shore it appears to be 
but very thinly covered. 
Tuesday, 29th. — We passed last night and dure 
ing this forenoon several islands which we had not 
seen before, owing to our being obliged, on ac- 
count of the ice, to keep more to the northward 
than we did when going to westward last year. 
Some of these islands are of considerable extent, 
