198 
VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 
1820 . ravine being nearly as steep, and much higher than the other, it was with 
considerable labour and difficulty that we were able to get the cart up it, 
in which, however, we succeeded by six o’clock, when we found that we 
were travelling on much higher ground than before, overlooking that which 
we had left the preceding evening. Having proceeded four miles over a level 
country, with much snow upon it, we suddenly and unexpectedly came in 
sight of the sea, or a lake, at the distance of two or three miles before 
us, just appearing between two high and steep hills which terminated a 
deep and broad ravine. In a short time, we opened out an island, which 
was soon recognised to be the same which we had seen to the eastward of 
us, on our journey to the north, and which we now found to be situated in 
this lake or gulf. We hastened forward to the point of the nearest hill, 
from whence the prospect was extremely grand and picturesqqe. We 
were looking down nearly perpendicular from a height of eight or nine 
hundred feet, on an extensive plain of ice, of which, to the westward, 
we could perceive no termination for a distance of five or six leagues, 
the prospect to the eastward being obstructed by other hills. A thick 
mist or vapour was at times carried rapidly along by the wind over this 
ice, to which it was entirely confined, occasionally covering the top of 
the island with a dense cloud. The impression made upon our minds at the 
time was, that it was a frozen lake on which we were now looking ; but this 
conjecture, as it afterwards appeared, proved erroneous. The ravine at which 
we had arrived discharges its waters into a snug cove two or three miles deep, 
which was named after Mr. Bushnan, and at the head of which we now pro- 
posed resting, if a place could be found at which our descent into the ravine 
could be effected. The sides of the ravine, which were very steep, were 
covered with innumerable blocks of sandstone of every size and shape, over 
which alone any road could be found to the cove below. It was necessary, 
therefore, to make the attempt, but it was impossible for the best built carriage 
to travel long on such a road ; and when we had half descended the bank, 
which led into the ravine on its north side, the axle-tree broke short in the 
middle. The baggage was therefore taken off, and carried down to the 
bottom, where the tents were pitched at eleven A.M., the wheels being left 
where the cart broke down, as sound as at first. 
The latitude observed here was 75° 12' 50", the longitude, by chrono- 
meter, 111° 50' 05", and the variation of the magnetic needle 125° 12' 22'' 
Easterly. The wind being fresh from the W.N.W., and the weather being 
