202 Thirty Years 
of navigation, with some danger and more anxiety, we 
landed and encamped on a smooth rocky point; from 
whence we perceived, with much satisfaction, that the 
ice consisted only of detached pieces, which would be 
removed by the first breeze. We sounded in seven- 
teen fathoms, close to the shore, this day. The least 
depth ascertained by the lead, since our departure 
from the river, was six fathoms ; and it may be remark- 
ed, that any ship might. pass safely between the 
islands and the main. The water is of a light green 
color, but not very clear ; and it is much less salt than 
that of the Atlantic, judging from our recollection of 
its taste. In the course of the day we saw geese and 
ducks with their young, and two deer; and experien- 
ced very great variations of temperature, from the 
light breezes blowing alternately from the ice and the 
land. The name of ‘ Lawford’s Islands” was bestow- 
ed on a group we passed in the course of the day, as a 
mark of my respect for Vice-Admiral Lawford, under 
whose auspices I first entered the naval service. 
A fresh breeze blowing through the night had 
driven the ice from the land, and opened a channel of 
a mile in width ; we therefore embarked at nine A.M. 
' to pursue our journey along the coast, but at the dis- 
tance of nine miles were obliged to seek shelter in 
Port Epworth, the wind having become adverse, and 
too strong to admit of our proceeding, The Tree 
