196 FALSE STRAIT— CAPE BIRD. Chap. XI. 



substantial traveller's fare, with other provisions 

 for our future sledging-parties. This ice is in 

 large stout fields, of more than one winter's 

 growth, apparently immovable in consequence 

 of the numerous islets and rocks which rise 

 through and hold it fast. If the weather per- 

 mits, we shall remain here for a few days and 

 watch the effect of winds and tides upon it ; 

 that the ship will get any further seems impro- 

 bable. 



lO^A. — I have explored a small inlet near Cape 

 Bird, which we have named F^lse Strait, from 

 its striking resemblance to the true one, and 

 find it is only separated from the long lake by 

 half-a-mile of low land ; the lake we have ascer- 

 tained to be about 12 miles long, and from it 

 valleys extend eastward and southward, so that 

 we are sure of a good sledge route, — an impor- 

 tant matter, as the hills rise to 1600 feet above 

 the sea. 



Cape Bird is 500 feet high ; from its summit 

 we carefully observe the ice. This granite coast 

 presents a jagged appearance ; it is deeply in- 

 dented and studded with islets. The ice in the 

 western sea (or Peel Strait) is much more 

 broken up than it was upon the 31st ultimo ; 

 there is no longer any fixed ice except within 

 the grasp of the islets. Birds and animals have 



