OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 



37 



should have immediate access to the northern part of the Welcome. We A J^J 

 observed something very like smoke rising from about Cape Welsford, which, 

 being confined to one spot, was thought likely to be occasioned by the fires 

 of natives. Nothing could exceed the fineness of the weather about this 

 time ; the climate was, indeed, altogether so different from that to which we 

 had before been accustomed in the icy seas, as to be a matter of constant 

 remark. The days were temperate and clear, and the nights not cold, 

 though a very thin plate of ice was usually formed upon the surface of the 

 sea in sheltered places, and in the pools of water upon the floes. After 

 sunset we descried land, appearing very distant, through the middle of the 

 strait, which we considered to be that on the American side of the Welcome. 

 At this time, also, we observed some ice in the centre of the strait, heavier 

 than that which covered the rest of the sea, and apparently aground in shoal 

 water, as afterwards proved to be the case. 



On the morning of the 14th, the ice continued almost as close as before Tues. 14. 

 about the ships, but the wind being easterly and some clear water beginning 

 to appear in the direction of the strait, we were encouraged to make an 

 attempt to move. The signal was, therefore, made to warp with lines and 

 hawsers, but we met with no success to repay our endeavours, the Hecla 

 having rather lost than gained ground in the course of the day, and the Fury, 

 though favoured by slacker ice, not having advanced one mile after nine 

 hours' labour. We, therefore, made fast to a floe three quarters of a mile in 

 length, and almost as much across, our soundings being one hundred and 

 ninety-two fathoms, at the distance of seven miles from a high island which 

 occupies a large portion of this passage on its northern side. A great variety 

 of coral, shells, and marine insects were here brought up from the bottom, 

 which will pe described in another place. 



The wind shifted to the westward and increased to a strong breeze in the 

 night, in consequence of which we had, on the morning of the 15th, un- Wed. 15 

 avoidably drifted back five or six miles to the eastward. This temporary loss 

 of ground was, however, as usual, more than compensated by a large space 

 of clear water now seen in-shore, into which, after several hours' exertion, we 

 succeeded in getting the Fury, at three P.M. We were here within a league 

 of a remarkable headland on Southampton Island, which 1 named Cape 

 Bylot, as being probably the westernmost land seen by that navigator in 1615. 

 In the meantime, the Hecla, still continuing very closely beset, had, in spite 

 of every exertion, drifted back with the ice several miles to the northward 



