OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 
177 
extent a quarter of an acre of ground. The surface of it consists generally 18-20. 
of sand, on which are lying numerous masses of lime-stone, nearly the whole 
of which, though varying in colour from white to dark brown, have a fetid 
smell when broken; and many of the specimens contained madrepore. We 
found here also a quantity of clay iron-stone, which is common in this part of 
Melville Island, together with pieces of flint, granite, and other substances, 
which are described in the Appendix. During this excursion, too, we dis- 
overed, with pleasure, that the sorrel (Rumex digi/nus, Linn.) was extremely 
abundant in the neighbourhood of the ships, a root or two of this valuable 
antiscorbutic plant occurring in almost every tuft of moss which we met with. 
No appearance of its beginning to vegetate could yet, however, be perceived ; 
and we began to look with impatience for the sprouting of its leaves, from 
which we hoped to obtain a supply of fresh vegetable matter, of which, perhaps 
in reality, we all began to stand in need. About two hundred yards to the 
westward of this hill is another rather smaller, but very similar in appearance, 
and composed of the same mineral substances as that just described ; in 
coming from the eastward, the second hill is not seen, being hid behind 
the other. 
Having considered that an examination of the extent and productions of Tues. 23. 
the island might be conducive to the improvement of the geography and 
natural history of these regions, and the good state of health enjoyed by 
the crews, permitting a certain number of men to be spared from each 
ship during their equipment for sea, I now determined to undertake a journey 
into the interior, for this purpose, accompanied by a certain number of 
officers and men who volunteered their services on the occasion ; and the 1st 
of June was fixed for our departure. The Griper’s sick-list had now been 
reduced to one person, whose only complaint was debility from a late attack 
of scurvy ; and William Scott, whom I have before had occasion to mention, 
was the only patient on board the Hecla. The case of this man had been 
such as, for some time past, to baffle Mr. Edwards’s endeavours to produce a 
favourable change, his complaint appearing to be more mental than corporeal, 
and, therefore, one which no medicine could be expected to cure. 
Previously to my intended departure, I was occupied in measuring a 
base upon the ice across the mouth of the harbour, and in taking the 
necessary angles for the survey, which was carried to the eastward be- 
yond Fife’s Harbour, principally for the purpose of connecting our obser- 
vations here with those obtained by Captain Sabine on the 6th of the pre- 
2 A 
