OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 103 



CHAPTER V. 



FURTHER EXAMINATION IN THE BOATS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONNECTING THE SHORES 



OF LYON INLET WITH THAT OP GORE BAY — DETAINED BY THE ICE REACH GORE 



BAY CONTINUITY OF THE LAND DETERMINED — FRESH DETENTION BY THE ICE 



BOATS CARRIED OVER LAND RETURN TO THE SHIPS PROGRESS OUT" OF THE INLET 



PREVENTED BY THE ICE THE FLTIY GROUNDS UPON A ROCK ANCHOR IN SAFETY 



COVE HEAVY EASTERLY GALES — PROCEED OUT OF THE INLET ARRIVAL IN A BAY 



ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF WINTER ISLAND SHIPS SECURED IN WINTER-QUARTERS. 



At the time of my quitting the ships the ice was in sight from the mast- 1821. 

 head, stretching across the mouth of the inlet, a few miles below our an- . J.^^' . 

 chorage, while the sea was only partially covered with loose masses nearTues. 15. 

 our last station, and higher up was entirely free from it. I was in hopes, 

 however, of being able to find our way along-shore in the boats without 

 incurring any great loss of time ; and, at all events, there was a satisfaction 

 in knowing that, should the boats fail in doing so, it would be in vain to 

 attempt it in the ships ; so that, in every point of view, our present plan was 

 the only advantageous one that could be adopted. 



We rowed before sunset between six and seven miles along the high 

 south-western land, passing what appeared a small harbour, with an island 

 near the middle of the entrance, and landed on a shingly beach near a 

 small bay or creek, extending three quarters of a mile to the W.N.W. and 

 then terminating in a deep broad valley. There were here three or four 

 acres of thick, close, and rather long grass, affording excellent feeding for 

 the rein-deer and hares of which several were seen. A great number of 

 white whales were playing about near the beach. We left the shore at 

 half-past four A.M. on the 16th, and in an hour's sailing with a fresh north- Sun. 16. 

 west wind came to some loose ice, through which we continued to make 

 our Avay till eleven o'clock, when it became so close that a passage could 



