252 DAILY ROUTINE. 



occurred in the night, the current setting strongly to 

 the westward, with the wind fresh from north-east ; and 

 may here remark, " en passant," that our experience 

 along this coast led us to consider the cm-rents as 

 mainly governed by the wind. I do not recollect a 

 single " weather tide." 



Between this island and the main land we were 

 unable to find a passage, and were obliged to pass 

 outside, where a good deal of heavy sailing ice was 

 in motion. The number of ducks and diving-birds 

 seen for the last tAvo or three days truly astonished 

 us, but they were so wild, that we could kill but 

 few. Immense quantities of driftwood lay along the 

 shores, much of it of large size, and nearly all very 

 straight. The coast line where not very low, was 

 generally composed of banks of mud and ice, with a 

 surface of about eighteen inches or two feet of peaty 

 stuff, elastic and spongy. 



The routine of one day's work on this coasting trip 

 was very much a sample of the rest : sometimes we 

 pulled separately, or in line tacked on to each other ; 

 sailed when we could, of com'se, never removing far 

 from the shore, in scarcely any instance beyond two 

 or three miles ; and landing, generally to take meals, 

 and as much oftener as numerous marks upon the 

 shore called for examination. The most trivial signs 



