ENORMOUS RIDGES OF ICE. 61 



striking difference of the season which Sir E. 

 Parry had experienced in passing through this 

 channel, where he speaks of the weather as fine, 

 and even mild ; whilst we, on the contrary, were 

 regaled with constant snow, and had the ther- 

 mometer at 28° + . We soon worked through 

 the remaining part of the open space ; and all 

 speculations of the chance of a further progress 

 being at an end, the ship was made fast to the 

 floe. At the same time, soundings were tried for 

 with three hundred fathoms, but without effect. 

 The night was cloudy, and almost calm ; but 

 shortly after midnight of August 19th, many 

 large pieces of ice, near the pack, were observed 

 to be drifting away to the south-west, at the 

 estimated rate of half a mile an hour ; and at 

 3 h 30° a. m., finding we were likely to be hemmed 

 in, the ship was cast off from the ice, and, by 

 means of lines carried out and attached to pro- 

 jecting masses, warped towards the north-east, 

 where alone there seemed to be a lane of water. 

 In an hour the desired spot was gained ; and, as 

 there was every appearance, from the darkness 

 of the sky, of a continued channel, sail was im- 

 mediately made on the ship, and, to the surprise 

 and joy of all, the impediment was found to have 

 yielded to a greater power, and a path opened 

 through what seemed an impenetrable barrier. 

 Such are the strange incidents of polar navi- 



