106 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. Attgubt 



culminating at the last-named point, and from thence 

 gently sinking towards Cape Bryan. The whole of the 

 coast-line presents an almost precipitous cliff rising to 

 a height of at least 1,000 feet. No deep fiords cut 

 through this long line of cliffs, Lafayette Bay being 

 the only striking indentation, and it does not run far 

 inland. On the western side of Kennedy Channel 

 the noble Victoria and Albert Mountains rear their 

 snow-clad peaks to a height of over 5,000 feet in a 

 series of isolated cone-shaped hills. Judging by the 

 eye, the loftiest portion of this range appears to lie to 

 the south-west of Scoresby Bay, the mountains gradu- 

 ally diminishing in height towards the head of Lady 

 Franklin Sound. 



Throughout the day we could not cease wondering 

 why the strong current from the north did not bring 

 down ice to fill up the open water through which we 

 were racing. We were also struck with the paucity of 

 animal life in this region ; during the previous twenty- 

 four hours only one seal and about a dozen dovekies 

 were observed, whilst not a single gull or loom was 

 noticed : this is somewhat remarkable if Kennedy 

 Channel remains continuously open during the 

 summer. 



At 4 a.m., of the 23rd, steering N.E. by N., the 

 high land about Cape Lupton near Polaris Bay was 

 sighted, distant about fifty miles ; the land to the east- 

 ward being below the horizon presented the appear- 

 ance of a channel leading to Newman Bay. 



On nearing Hall Basin with a southerly wind, ice 

 was observed stretching across from Cape Lieber to 

 Joe Island, with a collection of stream-ice extending 



