Across Hudson's Bay. 107 



the broad, placid, warm waters of Hudson's Bay, with the low, 

 sandy, barren, flat rocks of Mansfield Island before us. We greeted 

 the warmer water and the general prospect with feelings of delight, 

 and I fancied all on board entered into a better spirit of thanks- 

 giving for having escaped, for the time being, the inhospitality of 

 Hudson Strait. 



The coast of Mansfield Island is exceedingly low and flat, and 

 the water is very shallow for a considerable distance from the shore. 

 We spent the most of Saturday coasting along the eastern and 

 southern shores of the Island in a fruitless attempt to find a suitable 

 anchorage, so as to erect an observing station. One of the Nep- 

 tune's boats was sent ashore twice, but on both occasions she brought 

 back the report that there was no harbour, and no fresh water to 

 be found. 



In our observations of the coast during the day, we noticed a 

 curious formation of rocks rising in the shape of the ruins of an old 

 castle, from the dull level, much resembling the ruins always to be 

 met with on the Rhine. There was a little field ice skirting along 

 Mansfield Island, but none to interfere with navigation. While 

 looking for an anchorage on Mansfield we could see to the north- 

 eastward the distant shores of Cape Wolstenholme, and the Digges 

 Island, and far away to the south-east, near the entrance to Mos- 

 quito Bay, the masts and sails of a vessel, probably a brigantine. 

 But the most interesting objects that came within the reach of our 

 glasses, were two polar bears, probably the mother and her cub, 

 walking leisurely over the low, flat, barren rocks of Mansfield Island. 

 Upon noticing the Neptune, three or more miles distant, they ran 

 away into the interior. 



On the last occasion upon which the boat was sent ashore on 

 Mansfield, Dr. Bell accompanied the men and procured a handsome 

 collection of botanical and geological specimens, together with some 

 shells. There was no sign of animal life of any kind on the island 

 save the bears to which I have referred, and two or three long ago 

 deserted Eskimo cache's. Everywhere the prospect was utterly 

 bleak and barren. 



Before darkness overtook us on Saturday evening, Lieutenant 



