42 



CHAPTER II. 



Anchor at TJpernavik. The Squadron adrift. Dangers numerous. 

 Prospects of the Voyage. Browne Islands. Preparation for Flit- 

 ting. The ' Eesolute' nipped. Docking. Blasting Ice. Wreck of 

 the ' Regalia.' Meet a Whaler. Irregularities of the Crew. Mel- 

 ville Bay. Floe Law. Capture a Bear. Cape York. 



ON the 16th of June we had reached the western entrance 

 of the Waigat Channel, and found it closely blocked ; the 

 ice also, to seaward and the north, apparently closely 

 packed ; but in this we were undeceived as we neared 

 it, several lanes opening, which admitted of sailing, by a 

 little caution in selecting the weakest points for breach- 

 ing. The floe pieces, or flat ice, were so much eaten into 

 and rotten, that, if due calculation was made for the im- 

 petus in running into them at almost natural fissures, no 

 difficulty existed in dividing them and reaching the next 

 " lead." After some little excitement of this nature, and 

 giving a few shakes to the old craft, merely to let her 

 know that she must awaken to her old duties, we reached 

 the open water, and were making good progress, unfet- 

 tered by further obstacles, to the northward. 



On the 18th we were off Anderson's Hope; winds 

 light and adverse. Beat up amongst the islands, and, 



