190 ROSS'S SECOND VOYAGE. 



from his had been expressed by any one of his officers, 

 who, if they entertained any such, were unquestionably 

 bound to have stated it. The ice, moreover, lay then 

 BO thick that he could have penetrated but a few miles 

 further. 



Now, however, he sailed through the middle of the 

 strait, perceiving" scarcely any trace of ice or snow, 

 unless on the tops of the lofty mountains. The ther- 

 mometer stood at 40, while the sensible heat was so 

 much greater that they felt it agreeable to dine without 

 a fire, and with half the skylight removed. For two 

 days they made only a slow and laborious progress, by 

 the aid of steam ; but, on the 9th, a welcome breeze 

 sprang up from the east, and, all sail being set, on the 

 10th they passed Cape York, after which the land begins 

 to turn southward, and, with the opposite coast of North 

 Somerset (Boothia), forms the broad opening of Prince 

 Regent's Inlet. This being the channel by which Ross 

 hoped to accomplish his passage, he immediately steered 

 across, and reached the western shore on the afternoon 

 of the llth, between Cape Seppings and Elwin Bay. 



In sailing southward along this coast, some heavy 

 gales were encountered ; and the ice having been broken 

 off in the various forms of streams, packs, and bergs, 

 the full difficulties of Arctic navigation began to be 

 experienced. These were increased by the near ap- 

 proach to the magnetic pole, so that the compass 

 ceased to traverse ; and the bearings could be ascer- 

 tained only by observations on the sun, which was often 

 obscured by heavy fogs. The navigators made their 

 way, however, and on the 12th descried the place of 

 the Fury's wreck, with the poles of the tents standing. 

 They hastened, with intense interest, to examine this 

 spot. The hull of the ship, which was left on the 

 beach, had disappeared, without even a vestige remain- 



