OF THE POLAR SEA. 



365 



pieces, which would be removed by the first breeze. We sounded 

 in seventeen fathoms, close to the shore, this day. The least depth 

 ascertained by the lead, since our departure from the river, was six 

 fathoms ; and it may be remarked, that any ship might pass safely 

 between the islands and the main. The water is of a light green 

 colour, but not very clear ; and it is much less salt than that of 

 the Atlantic, judging from our recollection of its taste. In the 

 course of the day we saw geese and ducks with their young, and 

 two deer ; and experienced very great variations of temperature, 

 from the light breezes blowing alternately from the ice and the 

 land. The name of " Lawford's Islands" was bestowed on a group 

 we passed in the course of the day, as a mark of my respect for 

 Vice- Admiral Lawford, under whose auspices I first entered the 

 naval service. 



A fresh breeze blowing through the night had driven the ice from 

 the land, and opened a channel of a mile in width ; w r e, therefore, 

 embarked at nine A.M. to pursue our journey along the coast, but 

 at the distance of nine miles were obliged to seek shelter in Port 

 Epworth, the wind having become adverse, and too strong to admit 

 of our proceeding. The Tree Kiver of the Esquimaux which dis- 

 charges its waters into this bay appears to be narrow, and much inter- 

 rupted by rapids. The fishing-nets were set, but they obtained only 

 one white fish and a few bull-heads. This part of the coast is the 

 most sterile and inhospitable that can be imagined. One trap cliff 

 succeeds another with a tiresome uniformity, and 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 after- 

 wards discovered, on an island, a rein-deer, which the interpreters 



