TO THE ARCTIC REGIONS, 269. 
driven there by the sea, the chips that had been 
cut off it were lying there. It was low water at 
three o’clock, and from that time until half-past 
five, it had risen twelve inches: it set to the south- 
ward. 
Monday, 4th. — We made no great progress to- 
day, owing to there being but little wind for a con- 
siderable part of the time ; our course has been the 
same as for some days past, along shore, and about 
the usual distance from it, that is, between three 
and four leagues. In the course of the afternoon 
we crossed two banks lying about the distance 
just mentioned from the coast. The soundings on 
them varied from twelve and a half to eighteen 
fathoms; coarse sand with black and red specks. 
Between the two banks, the water deepened to 
fifty-six fathoms; nature of the bottom the same 
as above. Whilst we were on these banks, it was 
remarked that a tide or current was drifting us 
very fast to the southward ; and, on getting into 
deep water, we tried to ascertain its rate, but, to 
our surprise, could not find either tide or current. 
There were a great many icebergs aground about 
the edges of these banks, and there was also a 
considerable quantity of loose ice in the same 
neighbourhood, no doubt owing to its being 
retained there by the bergs. At one o’clock 
we were a little surprised to see a strange ship 
bearing N. E. of us, and distant between seven 
and eight miles; in the course of the afternoon 
three more sails were seen, from which we imme- 
diately concluded that they must be whale-ships. 
Although we are all anxious to hear the news, yet, 
