36 DRIFTING IN THE PACK. Chap. Ill 



the seals, are larger and fatter than formerly, therefore they 

 float when shot ; we are disposed to attribute their improved 

 condition to better feeding upon this bank. The dredge 

 brought up some few shellfish, starfish, stones, and much 



soft mud. 



gf/ L — On this day in 1824 Sir Edward Parry got out of 

 the middle ice, and succeeded in reaching Port Bowen. To 

 continue hoping for release in time to reach Bellot Strait 

 would be absurd ; yet, to employ the men, we continue our 

 preparation of tents, sledges, and gear for travelling. Two 

 days ago the ice became more slack than usual, and a long 

 lane opened; its western termination could not be seen 

 from aloft. Every effort was made to get into this water, 

 and by the aid of steam and blasting-powder we advanced 

 100 yards out of the intervening 170 yards of ice, when the 

 floes began to close together, a S.E. wind having sprung 

 up. Had we succeeded in reaching the water, I think we 

 should have extricated ourselves completely, and perhaps 

 ere this have reached Barrow Strait, but S.E. and S.W. gales 

 succeeded, and it now blows a S.S.E. gale, with sleet. 



iot/1. — Young went to the large icebergs to-day ; the 

 nearest of them is 250 feet high, and in 83 fathoms water; 

 it is therefore probably aground, except at spring-tide ; the 

 floe ice was drifting past it to the westward, and was crushing 

 up against its sides to a height of 50 feet. Since we first 

 became beset, and consequently the sudden destruction of 

 the ship a contingency which we should be prepared for, 

 provisions have been kept at hand on deck, boats and 

 sledges in readiness for instant use. In such a dire extre- 

 mity we should of course endeavour to reach the nearest 

 inhabited land. 



13///. — Thermometer has fallen to 17 at noon. We have 

 drifted 1 8 miles to the W. in the last week ; therefore our 

 neighbours, the icebergs, are not always aground, but even 



