42 FALL IN THE BAROMETER. 



satisfactory progress. We received, it is true, 

 some heavy thumps from the drift ice, but to 

 these we were now become familiarised. In the 

 early morning of the 8th, the wind having shifted 

 more to the west, we were enabled to make a 

 considerable advance ; but, about nine o'clock, 

 the scene was materially changed. We were 

 abreast of the five hillocks spoken of by Sir Ed- 

 ward Parry, when, instead of the enlivening view 

 of open water, which had just before greeted us, 

 nothing could now be discerned but one firmly 

 knitted pack of ice, stretching from the outer 

 point of the shore as far south as the horizon, 

 and forbidding even the hope of an opening in 

 any available direction. The barometer, too, 

 which of late had showed but very little varia- 

 tion, had fallen from 29° 8/ to 29° 54', and the 

 sky became dark and gloomy, snow fell, and the 

 wind blew half a gale from the N. N. W. What 

 small sails we had up were instantly taken in, 

 and the topsails reduced two reefs. But all our 

 efforts to hold on our course were unavailing ; 

 and as there happened to be a tolerably large 

 berg at no great distance, I determined to make 

 fast to it } as the only way of keeping to windward. 

 Accordingly, having run to leeward, a boat was 

 lowered, containing two ice-anchors and lines ; 

 and, while the most experienced of the crew 

 were employed in fixing these in the berg, on its 



