366 OBSTRUCTED OFF CAPE EDEN. \8e/jfem6er. 



alas ! our calculations were premature. About four P.M. 

 indications of ice ahead were reported, and we were 

 reduced to the necessity of selecting the most comfort- 

 able berth which offered amongst the patches of open 

 water, about ten miles to the north-east of Cape Osborn. 

 Unfortunately, the ' Pioneer' shortened sail some miles 

 astern, and before she reached the gap by which we had 

 entered, it had closed, and separated her so far as not 

 to be of further assistance until the communication was 

 opened. 



During our detention here we determined our position 

 to be in lat. 75 37' N., long. 92 22' W., Cape Osborn 

 bearing S. 18' 18" W., the variation 144 58' W. Our 

 distance from the nearest land was about one and a half 

 mile. A party consisting of Dr. Lyall, Mr. Pym, Mate, 

 and Mr. Lewis, Clerk in charge, started with a light boat 

 to endeavour to reach the land, and walk on to Cape Os- 

 born, on the summit of which we thought we could dis- 

 cover a large cairn or tent. They were unsuccessful, ow- 

 ing to the roughness of the ice, and the inefficiency of 

 their party to drag the boat over the distance which in- 

 tervened between us and the shore. It was in the se- 

 quel most fortunate. 



