1875 ABSENCE OF NORTHERN LAND. 139 



within which the ship was sealed up, apparently frozen 

 in for the season. 



The sky being fairly clear, we were able to set 

 at rest all doubts concerning the northern land reported 

 to exist by the ' Polaris ' Expedition. As seen through 

 light haze, the dark reflection in the sky above the de- 

 tached pools of water in the offing gave a very decided 

 appearance of land when there was a mirage, but after 

 a constant watch, and carefully noting the movements 

 of the darkened patches, I was obliged reluctantly to 

 admit that no land existed to the northward within 

 the limits of our vision. 



The absence of any visible land to the northward 

 was extremely discouraging, and the ice that lay 

 before us was of such a nature as to convince me, or 

 any person acquainted with Arctic navigation, that it 

 would be most unadvisable voluntarily to place a ship 

 in it. The following extract from my journal of the 

 11th expressed my views at the time, and I had no 

 reason to modify them afterwards : — 



4 It is perfectly evident that the report of " open 

 water " having been seen towards the north from the 

 deck of the " Polaris," when she attained her highest 

 latitude, meant merely that disconnected water-pools 

 were observed, but not that a water-channel fit for 

 navigation existed. In Lancaster Sound or Baffin's 

 Bay a water-pool in the pack may, under favourable 

 circumstances, be expected to open out and become 

 navigable. Here with this decided Polar ice, it is out 

 of the question that any commander should leave the 

 shelter of the land, and force his way into the pack 

 without insuring a retreat if necessary. The term 



