OF THE POLAR SEA. 



197 



their debris cover the narrow valleys that 

 intervene, to the exclusion of every kind of 

 herbage. From the summit of these cliffs 

 the ice appeared in every direction. 



We obtained the following observations 

 during our stay; latitude, 67° 42' 15" N., 

 longitude, 112° 30' 00" W., variation, 47° 

 37' 42" E. 



The wind abating, at eight P.M. we re- 

 embarked, and soon afterwards discovered, 

 on an island, a rein-deer, which the inter- 

 preters fortunately killed. Resuming our 

 voyage we were much impeded by the ice, 

 and, at length, being unable to force a pas- 

 sage through a close stream that had col- 

 lected round a cape, we put ashore at four 

 A. M. On the 24th, several stone fox- 

 traps and other traces of the Esquimaux 

 were seen near the encampment. The ho- 

 rizontal refraction varied so much this 

 morning, that the upper limb cf the sun 

 twice appeared at the horizon before it 

 finally rose. 



For the last two days the water rose and 

 fell about nine inches. The tides, however, 



