At the place where we crossed Cape Richardson it was not more than a
mile wide, and we found ourselves in a large bay, thickly studded with
high and rugged islands. A chain of these islands, which lay outside of
us, and to which I gave the name of Pomona, (after the largest island of
the Orcadian group,) had effectually served as a barrier to the ice from
seaward, and had thus made the walking much smoother than we had hoped
to find it. As we advanced there were many tracks of polar bears, and
also those of a wolverine, that appeared to follow them very closely,
expecting no doubt to appropriate some portion of whatever prey they
might catch. A flock of long-tailed ducks passed us, flying to the
westward, towards some open water, the vapour exhaled from which
appeared in that direction.
As we approached the north side of the bay, which was named after
Nicholas Garry, Esq., of the Hudson's Bay Company, there were so many
islands that I was much at a loss what direction to take. Under these
circumstances we encamped at 6 A.M. on a high island, about two miles in
diameter, from which a good view could be obtained. Garry Bay is the
most strangely shaped, and the most irregular in its outline, of any we
had yet seen. It presented three long, narrow, and high points of land,
and had four inlets. The largest and most southerly of these points was
called after Lieut. Halkett, R.N., and the most northerly of the inlets
received the name of Black Inlet. As no fuel could be obtained here, we
were reduced to the necessity of using some more of our alcohol, of
which but a small quantity now remained. The men were soon asleep under
our single blanket, (for this was all the covering we had for the
party,) whilst I remained awake for the purpose of obtaining an
observation of the sun at noon. This gave latitude 68° 59' 15" N.,
variation of the compass 88° 26' W., our longitude by account being 84°
48' W.
All the way between Lefroy and Garry Bays there is a range of hills,
from 500 to 800 feet high, about five miles from the coast, which was
distinguished by the name of His Royal Highness Prince Albert, consort
of our beloved Sovereign.
The weather was beautiful all day, and was equally fine when we
commenced our march at half-past nine at night. Our route lay somewhat
to the west of north, between two lofty islands, the smaller of which
received the name of Gladman, and the larger and most northerly I
designated Honeyman, after a brother. Seven miles from our encampment we
passed a bluff and precipitous point, the northern extremity of Garry
Bay, to which the name of Cape Arrowsmith was given, in honour of John
Arrowsmith, Esq., the talented hydrographer to Her Majesty.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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