24 
Sketched by R. M'Cormiclc, B.N. 
Cape Tom=, bearing S.W. 
utter desolation of the scene. We reached the tent at 7 p-m., and the other 
parties returned soon afterwards with the same results. 
When on the highest ridges, I carefully observed the appearances of the land 
in an easterly direction within the extent of vision for any apparent break of 
continuity that might afford an indication of water beyond, never losing sight 
of the possibility of Jones's Sound sweeping round in its course near the heads of 
some of the deeper inlets of the Wellington Channel, taking a westerly course 
from Baffin's Bay in the direction of Baring Bay, as Jones's Sound is represented 
to do in the chart. But neither Baring Bay nor the two other bays that I have 
since closely examined afford any indication of the vicinity of open water. An 
intermediate series of ridges of hills, one just rising above the other, and for the 
most part running parallel with the coast, bound the tops of all the bays ; 
and I have never seen the gulls or other sea-fowl fly inland to the eastward, 
although I have at all times watched them narrowly in their flight. 
Thursday, 2d. — Breakfasted at 7 a.m. The violent gusts of wind, accompanied 
by heavy snow-drift, during the night, nearly blew down our tent, and the air 
was excessively cold. Anxiously waiting for the gale to abate, to proceed on 
our voyage. After sketching the encampment and the adjacent hills, I walked 
up the ravine, and filled a haversack with specimens from the gypsum vein. 
Dined at 1.30 p.m., and built a cairn near the tent, under which 1 deposited a 
tin cylinder, enclosing the usual record of our proceedings. The gale abating 
during the day, as soon as the sea had sufficiently subsided I took advantage 
of the temporary lull to start at 4 p.m., notwithstanding a dark threatening 
horizon, with the hope of reaching our old quarters in Griffin Bay before we 
should encounter a second edition of the gale, which it was but too evident 
was brewing up in the north. On starting, saw a solitary snow-bunting on the 
beach. We sounded in crossing the bay with a line of twenty-three fathoms, 
and no bottom at this depth. The ridges round the top of the bay have a mean 
height of about tAvo hundred feet. 
1 sailed round the next semicircular bay, which I called " Fitton Bay," after 
an old friend and distinguished geologist, Dr. Fitton (who was the first to 
direct my attention to the structure of that highly interesting and remarkable 
island, Kerguelen's Land — Desolation Isle of Captain Cook — in the southern 
seas). Closely and carefully examined its shores and ridges, and got soundings in 
from four to five fathoms at a hundred yards from the beach. There is no shoal 
water in either of these bays, both being deep. The boat got into heavy rollers 
outside of the headlands ; one or two of which struck her, filling us with more 
water than we needed, having had enough of that element already. A black 
threatening squall rising to windward, we exerted every effort to reach Griffin 
Bay before it overtook us. At .5.30. p.m. we rounded Cape Grinnell, in a snow 
storm, into smooth water. Saw the provision cairn on the point, and two seals 
Kwinnning. Sailed close in shore round the bay, which is margined by a shingly 
beach, with hummocks of ice aground all round (as usual on all these shores 1, 
