Sept. 1858. FOUR RIVER POINT. 193 



the westward, as well as glimpses between the 

 hills of the blue eastern sea. Long and anxi- 

 ously did I survey the western sea, ice, and 

 lands, and could not but feel that in all pro- 

 bability we should not be permitted to pass 

 beyond our present position. 



To the northward Four River Point — Sir 

 James Ross's farthest in 1849 — was at once 

 recognised ; rather more than nine years ago I 

 stood upon it with him, and gazed almost as 

 anxiously in this direction ! My present view 

 confirmed the impression then received, of a 

 wide channel leading southward. The outline 

 of the western land is very distant ; it is of 

 considerable but uniform elevation, and slopes 

 gradually down to the strait, which is between 

 30 and 40 miles wide. This western land 

 appears to be limestone, and without offlying 

 islands. Our side of the strait or sea, on the 

 contrary, is primary rock, and fringed with 

 islets and rocks ; its southern extreme bears 

 S.S.W., and is probably 30 miles distant. 



Now for the ice. Although broken up, it lies 

 against this shore in immense fields : there is 

 but little water or room for ice-movement. 

 Along the west shore I can distinguish long 

 faint streaks of water. There is no appearance 

 of disruption about Four River Point or in the 







