evening before), and the crew being much tired, we anchored, hoping c h a p .
that a few hours would bring a breeze—not caring from ivhich quarter,
as we felt confident that, before the ice could approach near enough to Na^.,iv.
block us, we should be able to reach the Sea Horse Islands, where vve
made certain of being clear. The night dark and cloudy.
Thursday, 24th August. At two a . m ., a fine breeze rising at
E. S. E., we weighed, but found the current so strong against us that we
lort ground and anchored again ; - t h e current setting north (mag.) three
miles and a half an hour. At three we were alarmed at the sudden
appearance of the ice, which was drifting fast down on us. No time was to
be lost. The crew were instantly sent on shore with a warp. We got up
the anchor, and hauled within eight or ten yards of the beach, it being
steep enough to admit our proceeding thus close. We now began tracking
the boat along, and proceeded for a short time without much difficulty
; but the ice increasing fast, and the pieces getting larger, she received
some violent blows. The main body nearing the shore to the
distance of about 100 yards left this space less incumbered, and occasioned
an increase in the rapidity of the current one knot an hour. To
add to our perplexities, at five the wind freshened up at south (direct y
against us), and we also had the mortification to observe the ice speedily
connecting with the beach, scarcely leaving an open space visible.
Nothing now but the greatest exertion could extricate the boat; and
the crew, willing to make the most of every trifling advantage, gave a
hearty cheer, and forced her through thick and heavy ice until we
rounded a projecting point that had hitherto obstructed our view.
This, however, could only be acconipUshed with considerable labour and
risk; for here, as in many other places, we had to take the track-hne up
cliffs, frequently covered with hard snow and ice, which, hanging a considerable
distance over the water, prevented the possibility of getting
round beneath. The rope was then obliged to be thrown down, and the
upper cud held fast, until the crew hauled themselves up one by one; and
ill this manlier we continued along the cliff until the beach again made its
appearance. But here even we ibiiiid it no easy task to walk, on account
of small loose shingle, in which we often sunk to the knees; and having
the weight of the boat at the same time, it became e.xcessivcly tatigiiiiig.