262 Prospects of an Open Season. 



ourselves exactly in the same position we were forty- 

 eight hours ago, namely, off Cape Liverpool. We 

 shall be a long time getting home at this rate. 

 Perhaps the low barometer indicates a change of the 

 wind. 



Sunday, August 17th. — The wind gradually sub- 

 sided until it fell altogether towards the evening, 

 and now wo are, as we suppose, fifty miles off land, 

 about abreast of Pond's Inlet, steaming toward the 

 south. Snow and rain fell at intervals during the 

 day, which was thick and cloudy ; we steamed 

 through several extensive streams of loosely- 

 packed ice, gaining once more smooth water, which 

 is a great comfort. Poor little Brain is not at all 

 reconciled to his captivity, and has been vainly 

 endeavouring to make a hole through his cask with 

 both teeth and claws. He is a savage little brute, 

 seizing anything within his reach, and is wonder- 

 fully strong and quick for so small an animal. 



Monday, August 18th. — Several of our old friends, 

 the icebergs, are now in sight in various directions, 

 otherwise there is not a vestige of ice to be seen ; 

 no pack or stream- ice anywhere. The captain has 

 never seen Baffin's Bay so clear, and this augurs 

 well for a good open season next year, as it causes 

 a free passage for the ice to come out of Smith's. 

 Sound, while, in case of southerly winds, the ice 

 to the northward will more readily be broken up. 

 Everything points to the ensuing year as being the 



