OF A NORTH WEST PASSAGE. 341 



but nearly the same tiling occurred on the 11th, when the reverse was the 'f^^- 

 case with respect to the sun. In every instance the water was drawn in the 



same bucket, and from within a foot of the ship's bends ; and to whatever 

 cause it was to be attributed, it shews in how great a degree the tempera- 

 ture of the surface-water may be affected by some local and perhaps trivial 

 circumstance. A great number of seals were lying on the ice during the 

 day, and three swans were observed flying to the south-eastward. 



At daylight on the 9th, I sent Mr. Ross on shore to Amherst Island with Mon.9. 

 two men, and furnished with a tent and provisions, for the purpose of regis- 

 tering the rise and fall of the tides, while observations were at the same time 

 made upon the stream or current in the offing. At eight A.M. the tempera- 

 ture of the sea-water at the surface was 27° 



At thirty fathoms' depth . • . . . 27^ 



At 6fty-five „ „ 27i 



Air in the shade ........ 28 



Another clear and uncommonly beautiful day, such as we had scarcely expe- 

 rienced during the whole summer, gave us hopes of the season being some- 

 what lengthened by a mild autumn. In the evening we thought we could 

 perceive the sun glittering on a lane of water towards the western end of 

 the Strait, which might perhaps have been opened by the eastern breeze 

 now blowing. Every thing however remained unmoved on our side, and a 

 great quantity of young ice formed on the sea outside of us, so that it was 

 scarcely practicable to get a boat out for trying the current. The pools on 

 the floes were now also so hardly frozen, that skating and sliding were going 

 on upon them the whole day, though but a week before it had been dan- 

 gerous to venture upon them. 



This latter circumstance, together with the fineness of the weather and 

 the tempting appearance of the shore of Cockburn Island, which seemed 

 better calculated for travelling than any that wo had seen, combined to 

 induce me to despatch another party to the westward, with the hope of 

 increasing, by the only means within our reach, our knowledge of the lands 

 and sea in that direction. Lieutenant Rcid and I\Ir. Bushnan were once 

 more selected for that service to be accompanied by eight men, a large 

 number being preferred, because by this means only is it practicable to 

 accomplish a tolerably long journey, especially on account of the additional 

 weight of warm clothing which the present advanced state of the season 



