Apr. 1858. AN ICE-TOURNAMENT. 85 



23/7/. — Position 63 41' N., 58 59' W. I had long ago 

 resolved, if we escaped before the 15 th, or the 20th April at 

 the latest, to go to Newfoundland to refresh the crew and 

 to refit, even if no damage from the ice should be sustained. 

 In order to do so it would have been necessary for us 

 to visit a Greenland port for a supply of water. We could 

 not have calculated upon much assistance from our engines 

 upon such a voyage, Mr. Brand alone being capable of 

 working the engines, so that ten or twelve hours daily is all 

 the steaming that could have been expected. 



But we are still ice-locked, so I purpose going to Holstein- 

 borg in preference to a more southern port, as there we may 

 expect to get reindeer and a small supply of stores suitable 

 to our wants. The whalers sometimes reach Disco in 

 March, Upernivik in May, and the North Water early 

 in June. Unless we should be at once set free, we shall 

 not have time to spare for a Newfoundland voyage. 



2\th. — Another anxious week has passed. Latterly we 

 have experienced south-westerly currents, similar to those 

 which Parry describes when beset here in June, 18 19. 

 To-day we have had a strong S.E. breeze, with snow and 

 dark weather. The wind had greatly moderated when the 

 swell reached us about eight o'clock this evening. It is now 

 ten o'clock ; the long ocean swell already lifts its crest five 

 feet above the hollow of the sea, causing its thick covering 

 of icy fragments to dash against each other and against us 

 with unpleasant violence. It is however very beautiful to 

 look upon, the dear old familiar ocean-swell ! it has long 

 been a stranger to us, and is welcome in our solitude. If 

 the ' Fox ' was as solid as her neighbours, I am quite sure 

 she would enter into this ice-toumament with all their 

 apparent heartiness, instead of audibly making known her 

 sufferings to us. Every considerable surface of ice has been 

 broken into many smaller ones ; with feelings of exultation 



