NOTES FROM AN ARCTIC JOURNAL. 201 
Walrus, lying on a piece of ice, was seen. This bay appears to 
be a favourite resort for these animals, for it was here that we 
procured a couple, and saw Several, during our visit of the 
preceding year. The Walrus does hot appear to move farther 
north than Cape Frazer, the meeting place of the polar and 
southern tides; at that point we saw a single example. 
Early in the morning of the 7th the ice slackened around us, 
and we steamed into a large pool of water that extended some 
distance along the eastern shore of Norman Lockyer Island. 
After tying up to an iceberg we landed on that island. The 
snow lay sufficiently deep to conceal the greater part of the 
Eskimo traces, which we knew to be abundant there. Here and 
there the stone walls of an unroofed dwelling were to be seen, and 
numerous skulls of Walrus, all of which had been broken for 
the purpose of extracting the tusks and brains. During our walk 
on Norman Lockyer Island I saw two Ptarmigan and a pair of 
Ravens, and Mr. Giffard shot eight Eider Ducks. 
The whole of the 8th was spent in a wearisome conflict with 
the ice, that stretched asa close pack between Franklin Pierce 
Bay and Victoria Head to the southward. Though every exertion 
was made, and the vessels constantly rammed at full speed against 
any portions of the barrier that showed signs of weakness or offered 
a lead, still our progress was lamentably slow, and by midnight 
we were fast in the pack about two miles from Victoria Head, 
with every prospect of the ships being nipped. During the middle 
watch a Fox which came alongside was shot by Mr. Parr > it was 
a female, with the fur just changing into its winter colour. 
Early in the morning of the 9th, by one of those extraordinary 
impulses which are so conspicuous a feature in ice-navigation, 
the floes slackened their pressure, and we escaped from the 
embraces of the pack. After getting to the southward of Victoria 
Head, we met with large spaces, covered by young ice of a 
few hours’ previous growth, not more than two inches thick, 
through which the ships forced a way without difficulty. Great 
quantities of yellow diatomaceous matter was frozen in with this 
youngice. After passing Brevoort Island, which we were abreast 
of by six in the evening, we entered on comparatively open water. 
Our long struggles with the ice had ceased. 
During our entire voyage I saw no stretch of scenery that 
impressed itself more forcibly on my mind than the line of coast 
2D 
