OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 



201 



moon was between her quarters and the full. The electrometer was tried ^ 82 .2- 

 during the continuance of this evening's Aurora, but no effect was perceptible v^yO 

 either on that or a Kater's compass. 



On the 2d of April a thin sheet of bay-ice several miles square had formed Tues. 2. 

 on the sea to the eastward and southward, where for two or three days past 

 there had been a space of open water. This was occasioned more by the wind 

 remaining very moderate, and the neap-tides occurring about this time, than 

 from any great degree of cold, the thermometer seldom falling below — 6° or 

 — 7°. The wind, hoAvever, settling in the south-east to-day, the main body 

 of ice, which had been scarcely visible in the offing, soon began to move 

 in-shore, forcing before it the young floe and squeezing it up into innumer- 

 able hummocks, which presently being cemented together by a fresh forma- 

 tion in their interstices, constituted an example of one of the ways in which 

 these "hummocky floes" are produced, of which I have before so often had 

 occasion to speak. We were always glad to see this squeezing process take 

 place while the ice was still thin enough to admit of it ; as it thus became 

 compressed perhaps into one-fiftieth part of the compass that it would other- 

 wise have occupied, and of course left so much the more open space upon the 

 surface of the sea. The temperature of the water at the bottom in eight 

 fathoms was to-day 28°, being the same as that of the surface. 



Early in the morning the Esquimaux had been observed in motion 

 at the huts ; and several sledges drawn by dogs and heavily laden went 

 off to the westward. On going out to the village, we found one-half of the 

 people had quitted their late habitations, taking with them every article of 

 their property, and had gone over the ice, we knew not where, in quest 

 of more abundant food. The wretched appearance which the interior 

 of the huts now presented baffles all description. In each of the larger 

 ones some of the apartments were either wholly or in part deserted, the 

 very snow which composed the beds and fire-places having been turned 

 up, that no article might be left behind. Even the bare walls, whose 

 original colour was scarcely perceptible for lamp-black, blood, and other 

 filth, were not left perfect, large holes having been made in the sides and 

 roofs for the convenience of handing out the goods and chattels. The sight 

 of a deserted habitation is at all times calculated to excite in the mind a 

 sensation of dreariness and desolation, especially when we have lately seen it 

 filled with cheerful inhabitants ; but the feeling is even heightened rather 

 than diminished when a small portion of these inhabitants remain behind to 



2 D 



