OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 



331 



the present instance, by the strong breeze that blew directly upon the corner In- 

 forming the entrance on the south side. On clearing this, which we did 

 after running about one-third of a mile and then getting into smooth water, 

 though the current was running at least three knots to the eastward, the 

 thoughts of all our party were, by one common impulse, directed to- 

 wards Mr. Crozier and his little boat, which could not possibly have lived 

 in the sea we had just encountered. It was not, therefore, without the 

 most serious apprehension on his account that I landed at Cape North-East, 

 where I had directed the observations to be made on the tides ; and send- 

 ing Mr. Richards one way along the shore, proceeded myself along the other 

 to look for him. On firing a musket, after a quarter of an hour's walk, I had 

 the indescribable satisfaction of seeing Mr. Crozier make his appearance 

 from behind a rock, where he was engaged in watching the tide-mark. I 

 found him and his party quite safe and well, though they had encountered 

 no small danger, while attempting to try the velocity of the stream in the 

 narrows, being beset by a quantity of drift-ice from which they with dif- 

 ficulty escaped to the shore. I found also that Mr. Ross, after towing them 

 in when adrift, and leaving Mr. Crozier his provisions, had proceeded to 

 accomplish his other object, appointing a place to meet them on his return 

 to the ships. In half an hour after we saw the gig crossing to us under 

 sail, and were soon joined by Mr. Ross, who informed me that he had de- 

 termined the insularity of the northern land, which I therefore distinguished 

 by the name of Ormond Island, out of respect to the Earl of Ormond and 

 Ossory. 



Having furnished our gentlemen with an additional supply of provisions, 

 in case of their being unavoidably detained by the continuance of the wind, 

 I made sail for the isthmus at ten A.M., where we arrived after an hour's 

 run, and hauling the boat up on the rocks and depositing the greater part 

 of our stores near her, set off at one P.M. along the shore of Richards' 

 Bay, being equipped with only three days' provision and as small a weight 

 of clothing as possible. The coast, though not bad for travelling, led 

 us so much more to the westward than I expected, in consequence of its 

 numerous indentations that, after above five hours' hard walking, we had 

 only made good a W.S.W. course, direct distance six miles. One of our 

 men then complaining of giddiness and other unpleasant symptoms, we 

 halted and pitched the tent amidst rugged and barren rocks of red granite, 

 dreary and desolate beyond description. A single snow-bunting was literally 



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