322 SECOND VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 



August parallel of 69° 26', being nearly that in which the place called by the Esqui- 

 ^r^> maux Khemig had been found by observation to lie. This appeared a simple 

 and effectual method of deciding a question, on which the operations of the 

 Expedition might ultimately depend. In the mean time, Lieutenant Palmer, 

 was directed to proceed in a boat to Igloolik, or Neerlo-nakto, as might 

 be necessary, to ascertain whether the passage leading towards Khemig was 

 yet clear of ice ; and, should he find any one of the Esquimaux willing to 

 accompany him to the ships with his canoe, to bring him on board as a pilot. 

 The third party consisted of Mr. Bushnan, with three men, under the com- 

 mand of Lieutenant Reid, who was instructed to proceed along the conti- 

 nental coast to the westward, to gain as much information as possible re- 

 specting the termination of our present strait, the time of his return to the 

 ships being limited to four days, at the expiration of which the other two 

 parties might also be expected to reach us. 



By this arrangement, in which the connexion of each expedition with the 

 others, and that of the whole with our main object, will easily be perceived, 

 I hoped to gain such information as would either confirm my determination 

 to continue our efforts in the present station of the ships, or point out, 

 beyond any doubt, the expediency of transferring them to some other 

 quarter. Having gone on board the Hecla to communicate my views and 

 intentions to Captain Lyon, I directed every thing to be in readiness for 

 despatching the parties at noon on the following day. 

 Thur. 29. On the morning of the 29th, the wind being light from the eastward but 

 the weather much more clear than before, we weighed and stood over to the 

 main-land with the intention of putting our travellers on shore, but found 

 that coast now so lined with the ice which had lately broken adrift, that it 

 was not possible for a boat to approach it. We could not help at this time 

 congratulating ourselves on the fortunate escape we had experienced, in not 

 having already cut any distance into the floe before it separated ; for in such 

 a case it would hardly have been possible to escape driving on shore with it. 

 Standing off to the westward, to see what service the late disruption had 

 done us, we found that a considerable floe had separated, exactly in a line 

 between the island off which we lay and a second to the westward of it, 

 subsequently named, at Lieutenant Hoppner's request, in honour of Lord 

 Amherst*. Tacking at the newly-formed margin of the fixed ice, we observed, 



* These two islands are probably those delineated by Iligliuk in this situation, in her chart, 

 (No. Z) 



