194 CHEERLESS STATE OF WESTERN SEA. Chap. XT. 



contracted part of Peel Strait — we Lave nothing 

 to hope for in that quarter ; neither is there 

 any evidence of current or pressure ; the ice 

 appears much decayed, but, as I am surveying 

 it from a height of about 1600 feet, I may be 

 deceived. 



The strong contrast between the eastern and 

 western seas and lands is very unfavourable 

 to the latter. 



Apart from the ice, I was fortunate, however, 

 in discovering a long narrow lake, occupying 

 a valley which lies between a small inlet near 

 Cape Bird and Hazard Inlet — in fact, a sort of 

 echo of Bellot Strait — and I look upon it as 

 our sledge-route for the autumn, since it ap- 

 pears probable we shall winter in our present 

 position. 



This is a wondrous rough country to scramble 

 over ; one never ceases to wonder how such 

 huge blocks of rock can have got into such 

 strange positions. I noticed two masses in par- 

 ticular, each of them perched upon three small 

 stones. The rock is gneiss ; there is also much 

 granite. Even upon the hill-tops pieces of lime- 

 stone are occasionally met with. 



My walk occupied eleven hours, and, although 

 I everywhere saw traces of animals, the only 

 living thing seen was a grey falcon. During 



