SECOND VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY. 



especially our Winter Island acquaintance, setting off to the little islands 

 called Ooglit and those in our neighbourhood removing to the north-east 

 end of Igloolik, to a peninsula called Keii/uk-tarrnoke, to which the open 

 water was somewhat nearer. These people now became so much incom- 

 moded by the melting of their snow huts, that they were obliged to substitute 

 skins as the roofs, retaining however the sides and part of the passages of 

 the original habitations. These demi-tents were miserable enough while 

 in this state, some of the snow continually falling in, and the floor being 

 constantly wet by its thawing. 

 FricS^ O n * nc ^d of May several of our gentlemen accompanied the Esquimaux to 

 the open water, to endeavour to procure some ducks, large flocks of which 

 were flying about there ; but a quantity of " young" ice prevented their 

 approaching them. In walking out with the wind blowing against them from 

 the sea to the eastward, they found their faces covered with salt, the ther- 

 mometer being from +11° to +17° during the day. 

 Thur. 8. Accustomed as we had been to the rapidity of the changes produced by 

 warmth when it does begin to operate in these climates, we still could not 

 help being surprised at the alteration which a few days of temperate weather 

 in the beginning of May effected in the appearance of the land, many of the 

 ridges being almost entirely clear of snow, and every hour discovering some 

 fresh spots of dark ground. The deception occasioned by one unvaried and 

 extensive surface of white was now also once more perceptible, principally 

 in making the neighbouring lands appear much nearer than before, and 

 discovering the hills and valleys ; whereas in the winter all was blended to- 

 gether, so as to give no idea of the true distance of the land or of its various 

 undulations. Another change which we have invariably remarked to take 

 place in the spring, was now daily more and more observable ; this consisted 

 in the distinctness with which distant lands might be seen, or rather in 

 those parts of the coast coming in sight which we had never seen during the 

 winter. It is most certain indeed that, notwithstanding all that has been 

 said of the superior transparency of the winter atmosphere in these regions, 

 there is none less clear for viewing either celestial or terrestrial objects, 

 which fact will I believe become apparent to any person putting it fairly 

 Sat. 10. to the test. At eleven P.M. we had a thick fog, which lasted for a 

 couple of hours, and another for a short time on the I Oth. Upon the spots 

 that were bare of snow on shore we now observed numerous caterpillars, of 

 the same kind as those found in equal abundance, and at the same time of the 



