OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 337 



" From these observations it would appear that the regular stream of flood- 

 tide sets to the eastward, and that of the ebb to the westward, in this Strait; 

 though, at this season, the latter is not always perceptible, on account of the 

 rapid current permanently running against it in an easterly direction." 



After towing Mr. Crozicr to the shore, under circumstances of consi- 

 derable danger to that gentleman's party in their little boat, Mr. Ross imme- 

 diately proceeded in execution of the service with which he was charged, 

 and landing a little to the northward of Capo Ossory, observed the latitude 

 to be 69° 43' 30". He then rowed along the shore to the northward, passing 

 one or two bays and several small islands, and landed in the evening upon a 

 rugged islet, a quarter of a mile long, from whence he had the passage 

 directly open between Ormond Island and tlie northern shore, and after- 

 wards perceived an island lying towards its western opening, which had 

 before been noticed from the opposite side. The rocks along this coast 

 were found to be composed of greyish gneiss, and on some of the islands 

 numerous masses of reddish granite also occurred, lying detached upon the 

 surface. On the small islet adjoining Cape Ossory, Mr. Ross noticed a 

 broad vein of dark-coloured hornblende, imbedded in the gneiss ; and a 

 similar structure presented itself near a small bay just to the northward of 

 it, the vein being here about thirty yards wide, forty or fifty feet high, and 

 reaching as far under water as could be distinguished. The appearance of 

 this, at a short distance, was not unlike that of a high pile of coal, and from 

 the direction it took, it seemed to be a continuation of the vein before 

 noticed. 



Mr. Ross's report, of which I have here given a brief abstract, contained 

 also a variety of useful angles, observations, and other hydrographical ma- 

 terials, by which the whole of this part of the coast has been laid down on 

 the chart. 



LIEUTENANT HOPPNER'S REPORT. 



" Landing on Amherst Island at five A.M. on the 6tli, we hauled the boat 

 on shore, and proceeded with three days' provisions towards the western end 

 of the passage dividing the island from the main-land. The tide being out, 

 we experienced some difficulty in reaching the firm ice in the centre of the 



2 X 



