104 SECOND VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 



1821. no longer be found in any direction. Tiierc was also so much young ice in 

 vj;^^ every small interval between the loose masses, that the boats were much cut 

 about the water-line in endeavouring to force through it. We were now 

 abreast of a remarkable bluff, called, after the master of the Fiuy, Allison's 

 Bi.uFr, and fonning tlic northern point of an open bay, in vvliich alone there 

 was the smallest pool of clear water to be seen. In order, therefore, to 

 avoid the risk of being altogether driven from the shore, I determined to 

 attempt a passage into the bay, which Avas three quarters of a mile distant ; 

 and in this, after two hours' labour, we at length succeeded. The tents 

 being pitched and the boats hauled up, a part of our hands wore employed 

 in repairing tiie damages occasioned by the young ice, while tlie rest were 

 despatched inland in search of game : in this pursuit they wei'e not suc- 

 cessful, only one hare being brought in before dark. Finding that the ice 

 was likely to prove an obstacle of which we covdd not calculate the extent 

 or contiiumnce, we began at once to reduce our daily expenditure of provi- 

 sions, in order to meet any contingency. 

 Mon. 17. Ascending the hill at daylight on the 17th, we were much disappointed in 

 finding that, though the ice continued to drive a little to the S.E., it was 

 even more compact than before, the loose masses through which we had 

 sailed the preceding day being now closely set together. Our people were 

 to-day rather more successful in pursuit of game, bringing in seven hares 

 before sunset. These animals were quite white, presenting so strong a con- 

 trast Avith the colour of the ground on which no snow as yet remained, as 

 to render them very conspicuous at a distance ; and Ave often killed them 

 on landing, by having observed their situation Avhilc roAving along-shore at 

 the distance of half a mile or more. Several of the ermines also Avhich Ave 

 had procured for the last Avcck or tAvo Avere entirely Avhite, except the little 

 brush at the tip of the tail, Avhich Avas black. In other specimens of this 

 animal, hoAvever, the back Avas quite broAvn and the belly of a delicate light 

 straAV or sulphur colour. 

 Tues. 18. It Avas high Avater on the morning of the 18th, at four o'clock, being some- 

 AA'hat earlier than the preceding tide ; a kind of irrcgvilarity Avhich Avas very 

 common about the mouth of Lyon Inlet at this season, rendering it impossi- 

 ble by one or tAA'o observations to calculate the true time of tide on the full 

 and change days of the moon. As soon as it was light enough to make out 

 the situation of the ice, Avhich had noAV drifted considerably to the south- 

 Avard, Ave left the bay Avith a fresh and favourable breeze, and at a quarter 



