OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 467 



them until we had taken our departure. On tastin^^ the water at this station, ^^2'^- 



July. 



which is not more than seven or eight miles from the mouth of the opening, 

 it proved nearly fresh. We kept close along the north shore, passing over 

 very bad ice, with cracks extending across to the eastern part of the Strait. 

 It apj)earcd only to want a strong breeze from the westward to drive it out, 

 as it was quite detached from the land. At nine P.M. we landed on a small 

 rocky island, the easternmost of a group about fifteen miles from the spot where 

 wo left the Esquimaux on our former journey. From this point I could see 

 both the places we visited during that trip, and could now clearly ascertain 

 that the land was connected ; as the only part which had been doubtful was 

 in a bay formed by the north-eastern point of the river, and another about 

 five miles to the westward of our present station, where (the land being rather 

 low) there was an appearance of an opening ; this day's journey, however, 

 proved the continuity of the coast. Our time being limited, I did not think 

 it worth while going any further to the eastward ; but as the dogs would 

 require a day's rest previously to carrying us over to Igloolik, I determined 

 to remain here until the 29th for that purpose. 



" The weather was so thick that it was not until past ten on the 29th that 29. 

 we left the north land, and at seven arrived on the west end of Neerlo- 

 naktoo, Avherc we stopped for the night, our dogs being too much tired to 

 proceed. We found the ice in coming over far better than I expected. It 

 was however separated from both lands by wide cracks, and did not average 

 more than two feet in thickness as far as I could judge ; it appeared nearly 

 in the same state as last year at this season. 



" Leaving Neerlo-naktoo at half-past eleven on the 30th, we reached 30. 

 Igloolik at two P.M. The ice between the two islands was almost impassa- 

 ble for a sledge in some places, but the pools were all frozen over, for the first 

 time, during the last night. We found great difficulty in landing on Igloolik, 

 the ice having broken up into detached pieces along its shores. In getting 

 the sledge across from one end to the other, we were frequently near losing 

 it, the dogs having to swim across several of the spaces between the broken 

 jjieces of ice. Having crossed the isthmus, we got sight of the ships and 

 arrived on board about four P.^I." • 



The first qf August had now arrived ; and yet, incredible as it may appear, p"^"**' 

 the ships were as securely confined in the ice as in the middle of winter, cx- 



3 o 2 



