50 



SECOND VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 



1821. southward, which seemed to intimate, as was in fact the case, that we had 

 August. 



vw passed the Frozen Strait, and had the Welcome open to us in that direction. 

 A northerly breeze at length springing up gave us hopes of speedily clearing 

 up all our doubts on this subject, and a press of sail was carried to the 

 westward. The northern land, which now again came in sight, appeared to 

 be continuous, and we shortly after distinguished the opening between this 

 and the western shore seen the preceding evening, and for which our course 

 was now directed. In the afternoon, however, the wind increased consider- 

 ably, and the weather became so extremely thick with snow, which fell in 

 unusually large flakes, that for five or six hours we ran almost entirely by the 

 lead, which indicated deep water. Now and then, indeed, we caught an in- 

 distinct glimpse of the land on each side of us, which was sufficient to shew 

 the extreme caution necessary in running under such circumstances. The 

 land to the southward seemed high in its western part, and. low to the east- 

 ward, and that to the northward still appeared continuous and unbroken ex- 

 cept by islands. At thirty minutes after five, P.M., the weather being still 

 very thick, the land was suddenly discovered a-head, and we tacked in seventy 

 fathoms, on a rocky bottom. During the whole of this run, we scarcely 

 saw a piece of ice, except one stream through which we passed at three P.M. 

 At seven o'clock, there was still every appearance of a dirty and therefore 

 of an anxious night, if we should be obliged to keep the ships under way ; 

 and it was on that account my intention to stand in towards the northern 

 shore, and endeavour to get sight of it, so as to secure an anchorage for the 

 night ; but at a quarter before eight the weather suddenly cleared up, when 

 we found ourselves completely surrounded by land from E.N.E. round by 

 north to S.b.E., having unconsciously entered Repulse Bay, in which not apiece 

 of ice was to be seen that could obstruct us in its thorough examination. I 

 made the signal to stand off and on during the night, which proved extremely 

 clear and fine, and directed the boats of each ship to be in readiness for 

 landing in the morning. The latitude, by the meridian altitude of a cygni, 

 was 66° 27', which confirmed me in the belief of our being in Repulse Bay, 

 though it afforded some ground for suspecting the accuracy of Captain Mid- 

 dleton's latitude. 



Wed. 22. We stood up the bay towards daylight, and at seven A.M., I left the Fury, 

 accompanied by a large party of officers, having by signal requested Captain 

 Lyon to join us. At the same time I directed another boat to be despatched 

 from the Hecla, under the command of Lieutenant Palmer, to row round a 



