In the Arctic Regions. 453 
a great distance from the coast ; it then appeared to 
ascend gradually to the base of the Buckland chain of 
mountuins, 
Ya; The fdllowing morning being calm, and very 
fine, the boats were launched at three a.M., and we 
set off in high spirits ; but after pulling three miles, 
we perceived the thannel of open water becoming 
narrow, and the pieces of ice heavier than any we had 
before seen, some of them being aground in three 
fathoms water. At six a. ™., after having gone five 
miles and a half, we were stopped by the ice which 
adhered to the reef, and was unbroken to seaward. 
Imagining we saw water at some distance beyond this 
barrier, we were induced to drag the boats across the 
reef, and launch them into the channel on the inside, 
in the hope of reaching it. This proved to be a bay, 
at the head of which we arrived ina short time. It 
was then’ discovered that a fog hanging over the ice 
had been mistaken for water. The boats were, there- 
fore, reconveyed across the reef, the tents pitched, 
and we had to draw largely on our nearly exhausted 
stock of patience, as we contemplated the dreary view 
of this compact icy field. A herd of rein-deer appear- 
ed very opportunely to afford some employment, and 
most of the men were despatched on the chase, but 
only one was successful. The following observations 
were obtained :—Latitude 69° 36’ N. ; longitude 139° 
