SI 2 Mr Jameson’s Narrative of a 
have deserted their accustomed haunts, so that the ships em- 
ployed in the fishery seldom enter the bay. 
I should have been happy to have acquired some knowledge 
of the natural history of the islands in South-East Bay, but 
having had no opportunity of landing, I was obliged to content 
myself with a transient view of them. In height, they scarcely 
exceed 300 feet, their surfaces being uneven and rocky. On 
the contrary, the large island of Disko, which forms the north- 
ern boundary of the bay, is characterised by features very dif- 
ferent. It is supposed to be the highest land in Greenland, but 
is chiefly remarkable for the boldness and regularity of its shores. 
The south-west coast in particular, is one continued precipice of 
many hundred feet of perpendicular height, from the summit of 
which a ridge of mountains ascends by a rapid acclivity, to a 
very considerable elevation. To give some idea of the height of 
this land, I shall only mention the fact of its being visible in the 
horizon at the distance of 80 miles. 
Few species of birds were at this time to be seen. Eider ducks 
( Anas mollissima ) were very abundant. Common and black 
guillemots (Colymbus troile and grylle) were equally plentiful. 
A few ravens ( Corvus corax) were also seen flying about. 
Having seen nothing to encourage us to stop in the bay, we 
plied to the westward, among large flat pieces of ice or floes, 
which, in the crevices formed by the aggregation of the smaller 
upon the larger fragments, exhibited the most beautiful azure- 
blue tints of colour. On the 11th, we arrived at the edge of the 
West Pack. 
The quantity of floating ice on the west shore of Davis’ 
Straits is so considerable, as to present an almost insurmount- 
able obstacle towards approaching the land in that direction. 
This ice, which has from time immemorial occupied nearly the 
same situation, is termed the West Pack. 
At the West Pack we saw several whales, but were not so 
fortunate as to “ get fast” to any of them ; although we had 
boats plying about in different places. Those animals named 
Beluga’s, or white whales, ( Deljphinus leucas ), were here parti- 
cularly numerous. There are generally four or five of them 
together, describing in their movements (which are simultane- 
ous) a semicircle or crescent above the surface of the water. 
