48 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. July 



presents a miniature of the Greenland mer de glace ; 

 many small glaciers descend its flanks, and one of 

 large size occupies its north-west face. The appearance 

 of these descending ice-streams presented a marked 

 contrast to the warm-coloured sandstone cliffs, whilst 

 the effect was enhanced by the bright green vegetation 

 growing on the ledges, fertilized by the presence of 

 innumerable sea-birds. 



Passing Inglefield Gulf we noticed the ice stretching 

 from shore to shore east of Cape Acland, completely 

 closing it ; but Murchison Sound and Whale Sound 

 were clear. The Prince of Wales Mountains on Elles- 

 mere Land, and the coast range from Cape Faraday to 

 the north were distinctly visible. 



To the northward of the Cary Islands, and as 

 far north as Cape Alexander, the icebergs were of the 

 largest size, the majority of them being table-topped. 

 The * Discovery ' measured one rising two hundred 

 and ninety feet above the water-line. 



Cape Acland on its north-western face presents an 

 escarpment of bright red rock, probably sandstone, and 

 the cliffs of the mainland as far north as Sontag Bay 

 show similar coloured horizontal stratification. Early 

 in the morning of the 28th we were close to Cape 

 Alexander, and passing Sutherland Island at a distance 

 of about a mile and a half. This island, composed of 

 a rough-grained sandstone, appears to have been worn 

 down by glacier action : I estimated its height at about 

 300 feet. Cape Alexander is a noble headland pre- 

 senting a sea face of probably 1,400 feet ; it is separated 

 from the main by two enormous glaciers, which, de- 

 scending on either flank, enter Hartstene Bay on the 



