1852.] QUIT UPERNAVIK. 45 



to the turning of the berg ; ' Pioneer' fell fonl of her, 

 taking aAvay the jib-boom of ' Resolute,' and losing her 

 own fore-topmast. Both went adrift in a strong gale, 

 with thick fog, into the Strait, 



Our own berg, although close in shore, took leave of 

 us, carrying off the ice-anchors and hawsers of the ' As- 

 sistance,' ' North Star,' and ' Intrepid.' The uncertain 

 condition of the ' Resolute' and ' Pioneer,' in fog and bad 

 weather, amongst rocks, kept us in unpleasant suspense 

 during the night, but fortunately they rejoined the day 

 following, when our hawsers, etc., were also recovered. 

 We dropped our second anchor, and rode it out comfort- 

 ably, although the gusts at times were very heavy. 



June 20. The day turned out very fine, bright sun, 

 and little wind. After prayers, I took leave of the Resi- 

 dent, and joined the vessels outside, but, fog coming on, 

 had some difficulty in collecting the Squadron. 



We now passed in to the eastward, between the is- 

 lands, into the Great Sound, having been informed that 

 " Sir James Ross did so, and avoided much unpleasant 

 ice." But in this we were mistaken. After knocking 

 about until midnight, frequently obscured from each 

 other, and the sight of land, by fog or snow-drift, and 

 without any appearance of an opening, I determined on 

 effecting my escape by the first western outlet between 

 the islands. Within, as far as we had proceeded, the ice 

 was fast. With our accustomed good fortune, we soon hit 

 on a fair lead between them, and just cleared the southern 

 band of ice, interposed between us and Upernavik. 



This neighbourhood is very dangerous to navigate, and 

 I have been since informed, that scarcely a whaler passes 



