PASSAGE THROUGH THE ICE 91 



Harrison Bay, and that the tide observations, as far as they are 

 known, according to Dr. Harris, point maybe to a land or 

 island somewhere off this coast, it seems probable that it is this 

 hypothetical land which holds in place the ice off Cross Island 

 and off the sand-spit to the east and west of it. Besides the 

 work which we can do over the ice, there seem to be a good 

 many other things to be done here as well. The sand-spits are 

 not mapped correctly, no more than the coast inside, at any 

 rate as far as we can see it. At some distance from the coast 

 there is a high range of mountains never yet explored, and this 

 mountain range, with the low land in front of it, is drained by 

 several large rivers, unknown, save to the natives and white 

 men living there and unexplored. There seems to be a great 

 field here ; but what appeals most to us is the fact that during 

 the first winter we can do some interesting work over the ice 

 of Beaufort Sea, instead of waiting until the second winter. 



Another reason is that the season is so far advanced that 

 whenever it is calm new ice is formed. We might, as I said 

 above, possibly reach Herschel Island, but to spend the winter 

 there would be sheer waste of time. Supposing that we arrived at 

 Herschel Island, one day at least would be spent in buying dogs, 

 another in going down to King Point to meet Mr. Stefansson, 

 as we have got a letter from him by one of the whalers stating 

 that he is there. Herschel Island is about 200 miles distant, 

 and from there to Minto Inlet we should have about 400 miles 

 to cover. Of course, that would not be so very far if we could 

 only get a little fair wind ; but whenever we have not been 

 becalmed the wind has been contrary for the last month and a 

 half, while most of the time the current has been setting 

 against us. If we do not get a thorough change of wind, we 

 cannot make Minto Inlet before the winter sets in, as we are 

 able to beat up only about forty miles a day. Besides, the nights 

 are so dark now that we must anchor if there is any ice at all, 

 and the current with these permanent easterly winds will be 

 likely to set us about twenty miles a day to the west. We can- 

 not escape some calm days, and they too will count against our 

 prospect of reaching Minto Inlet. 



Everything considered, it seems most advisable to stop now, 

 We may at any time be caught in young ice and be forced to 

 winter in undesirable quarters, where we cannot do any work 



