ne another.

[4] Had we but happily known at that time of the perfect
description of the Wellington Channel ice subsequent to our
passage across in 1850, as shown by the tract of the American
Expedition and Lieutenant De Haven's admirable report, we should
not then have fallen into the error of believing _barriers_
of ice to be permanent in deep-water channels, a fallacy which it
is to be hoped has exploded with many other misconceptions as to
the fixed nature of ice, and the constant accumulation of it in
Polar regions.

And so it proved. Leaving the "Assistance" and "Resolute" to join us
off Cape Dudley Digges, the steamers proceeded, under Captain Austin,
with three months' provisions, on the night of the 14th of August, for
Jones's Sound.

Next morning brought the steamers close in with the shore between Capes
Horsburgh and Osborn, along which we steered towards Jones's Sound.
Glacier and iceberg again abounded, and the comparatively tame scenery
of Barrow's Strait was changed for bold and picturesque mountains and
headlands. As the evening of the 15th drew in, Jones's Sound gradually
opened itself in the Coburg Bay of the charts, and, in spite of a
strong head-wind, we drew up to and commenced working up it under sail
and steam. During the night, Cape Leopold showed to be an island,
dividing the sound into two entrances; and the exhilarating effect of a
fine broad expanse of water leading to the westward, up which we were
thrashing under a press of canvas, was only marred by the unpleasant
fact that we had parted from the ships containing our main stock of
provisions, without the means of following up any traces, should we be
happy enough to discover them, of the poor missing expedition.

* * * * *

_Saturday, August 16th, 1851._--The sound is evidently narrowest about
the entrance; from a point to the N.W. of us it evidently increases in
width; loose patches of ice are occasionally met with, and the tides
seem somewhat strong, judging by the set of the vessel. The scenery is
magnificent, especially on the south shore, where some ten miles in the
interior a huge dome of pure white snow envelopes land some 3000 or
4000 feet high, which Captain Austin has named the Trenter Mountains,
in compliment to the family of Sir John Barrow (that being the maiden
name of the Dowager Lady Barrow). From this range long winding glac