OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 
193 
was ten at night before our people got through it, so as to admit the water; 1820. 
it then flowed up within fifteen inches of the upper surface of the ice, by 
which some idea may be formed of the specific gravity of the latter. The 
water was not very salt, owing probably to its acquiring a degree of fresh- 
ness, in forcing itself through an aperture so small as to require three 
quarters of an hour to fill up the hole to its proper level ; a small quantity 
of it, however, was sufficient to convince each of us, that it was the sea upon 
which we were standing, and a canteen was filled, in order to try its specific 
gravity on our return to the ships. The thickness of the ice on this coast, 
as compared with that in Winter Harbour, the former being double that of 
the other, may at first sight appear to be an indication of a more severe 
climate on this than on the southern coast of Melville Island ; but this cir- 
cumstance is easily accounted for by observing, that the ice of a harbour 
is, as we know by experience, the formation of a single winter ; whereas, on 
an open and exposed beach, like that of Point Nias, the last year’s, or sea- 
ice, is at liberty to fix itself in the autumn, forcing up the masses which 
we see aground in all such situations, and increasing, in the course of the 
ensuing winter, to the thickness which we here found it to be. Had we 
accidentally come to any bay or harbour, secure from the access of the floes 
from without, and of the same depth as Winter Harbour, I doubt not we 
should have found the ice in it of nearly the same thickness. 
We saw nothing living in this spot, except a flock of five or six ducks, 
none of which were killed. There was scarcely any thing, except a little 
stunted moss and some lichens, which deserved the name of vegetation ; and 
the only exception to the tiresome monotony of sandstone which had occurred 
for many days past, consisted in two or three pieces of red granite, and 
of red and white feldspar, which several hours’ search enabled us to find. 
Two pieces of drift-wmod were also found upon the beach, from ten to 
twenty feet above the present level of the sea; they were both pine, one of 
them being seven feet and a half long, and three inches in diameter, and the 
other much smaller. They were both partly buried in the sand, and the 
fibres were so much decayed and separated, as to fall to pieces upon being 
taken hold of. 
We dined at midnight; and at half past one A.M., on the 8th, struck Thurs. 
the tents, and drew the cart to the higher part of the Point, where we oc- 
eupied two hours in completing our monument, which is of a conical form, 
twelve feet broad at the base, and as many in height. Within it were deposited 
2 C . 
