Voyage of Discovery to the Arctic Regions. 379 
mentioned as having a remarkable notch in it, N. 44° E. to E. 
by N. 4.N. Perceived the deviation of the compasses to be one 
point from one tack to the other.’— Alexander’s log. 
‘¢ The land on the south side of the inlet was high, and full of 
sharp-pointed hills, which were completely covered with snow, 
having an appearance unusually grand. In the vallies there were 
several large glaciers. ‘The coast appeared to trend W. by S. 
(true.) The land on the north side did not appear to be either 
so high or so rugged as that ou the opposite side, its western 
visible extremity being bounded by a cape, or headland, with a 
notch in it. This headland bore about N. 62 W. (true.) The 
other extreme of this land bore about N. 32 W. (true.) 
‘¢ The breadth of the inlet was estimated to be from ten to 
twelve leagues. Our latitude, to-day at noon, was 74° 21’ 08” N. 
and longitude, by chronometer, 79° 01’ 46” W. At night we 
saw several stars, for the first time since we crossed the Arctic 
circle. Although we hailed them at first as old friends, bringing 
into recollection the happy change of day and night in our na- 
tive clime, still, on a little reflection, we could not fail to con- 
sider them as the harbingers of that dreary season which must, 
in a little time, suspend our researches in these regions, unless 
we should be so fortunate as to accomplish the object in view — 
fore that period arrives. 
* The wind having been rather against us (N.N. W. by com- 
pass) during the whole of the night, we made but little progress ; 
but on the following morning, the 3lst, every thing tended, if 
possible, to increase our hopes. Not any ice was to be seen in 
any direction ; and at seven o’clock, the weather being remark- 
ably fine and clear, land was not to be discerned between N. 21° 
W., and N. 44° E. At this time, our distance from the northern 
land was estimated at seven or eight leagues, and from the 
southern, six or seven Jeagues; but, alas! the sanguine hopes 
and high expectations excited by this promising appearance of 
things, were but of a short duration ; for, about three o’clock in 
the afternoon, the Isabella tacked, very much to our surprise in- 
deed, as we cuuld not see any thing like land at the bottom of 
the inlet, nor was the weather well calculated at the time for 
seeing any object at a great distance, it being somewhat hazy. 
When she tacked, the Isabella was about three or four miles a- 
head of us, so that, considering the state of the weather, and a 
part of this additional distance, for we did not tack immediately 
on her tacking, but stood on towards her, some allowance is to 
be made for our not seeing the land all around. Ocular demon- 
stration would certainly have been very satisfactory to us, on a 
point in which we were so much interested ; but we must be con- 
tent, 
