OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 



225 



The diminution of snow from the rocks was now going on much more rapidly, ] 822. 

 and on mild days, such as this, a difference could be perceived in the aspect ^Zi, 

 of the land in the course of four or five hours. Whatever thawing took 

 place, however, the snow seemed to be no'sooner dissolved into water than 

 it was also converted into vapour ; for not a pool or stream of any kind was 

 yet to be seen. I must however make an exception in favour of a place 

 upon the ice where a line of sand had purposely been laid a day or two 

 before, reaching nearly across the bay, and passing just outside the ships, 

 with the intention of facilitating the thawing process by artificial means, and 

 of thus hastening the time of our release. Here the sand soon made a 

 trench for itself of considerable depth, in consequence of the heat absorbed 

 by it, but it required some labour occasionally to clear out the snow-drift 

 which subsequently collected there. Even this labour we soon after ceased 

 to bestow upon it, finding that nature would require our assistance on a 

 much larger scale if we desired to hasten our departure. There seemed no 

 doubt, however, that in some cases the plan might be of essential service. 

 The first flock of fifteen ducks, which proved to be of the long-tailed spe- 

 cies, were seen to-day, as also two silvery gulls. The wind becoming va- 

 riable, and at length settling from the eastward, the ice closed in with the 

 land ; but we now saw this without anxiety, as there was no longer any frost 

 that could cement it to the shore. 



On the 5th the first pool, from which perhaps a gill of water might have Sun. 5 

 been taken up by a sponge, was seen upon the rocks. The mercury in the 

 barometer which had been very slowly rising from 30.08 inches on the morn- 

 ing of the 1st, had for the third time this Avinter reached 30.40 at midnight 

 on the 5th, at which it continued for six or seven hours and then fell much 

 more rapidly. The wind had during this time been moderate, and the 

 weather remained fine for several days, though the barometer even with a 

 northerly wind had fallen to 29.70 inches on the 8th. The weather was mild 

 and pleasant to the feelings to-day, the thermometer being as high as 43° in 

 the shade and 57° in the sun. 



On the 7th the average depth of snow upon the ice was found to be eight Tues. 7. 

 inches, being nearly double what it was on the 31st of March. The weather Wed. 8. 

 being now to all appearance tolerably settled, I determined on sending away 

 our travelling-party under Captain Lyon. It consisted of Lieutenant Palmer, 

 five seamen, and three marines, the whole being victualled for twenty days, 

 and furnished with a tent, fuel, and every other convenience of which such a 



2 g 



