CHAP. IV.] RESULTS OF COMMOTION. 183 



and grinding of the ice around us were painfully 

 distinct ; and, although the light airs above had 

 prevailed, yet to our utter amazement, the first 

 beam of day on the 9th January displayed the 

 high ridged cliff, which I have before mentioned, 

 within three miles of the ship. What had become 

 of the four or five miles of ice which but a few 

 hours before had intervened between us and the 

 same land, was beyond our comprehension. All 

 we knew was that it was there no longer. An 

 attempt was instantly made to get soundings 

 through the fire-hole, but this was frustrated from 

 the under part being entirely blocked up by ice. 

 However, a lane or rather hole of water 

 ninety fathoms ahead, answered our purpose, 

 and the lead struck upon a green slimy rock at 

 seventy fathoms. Along the surface of this 

 opening, some light pieces of ice were setting at 

 the rate of two knots directly south, for the shore, 

 agreeing in that respect with the known set from 

 the north, and Fury and Hecla Strait ; this 

 would satisfactorily account for the line of drift 

 as well as for the accumulation of ice generally 

 observed along Southampton Island. Atnoon there 

 , was still pressure against the north edge of the floe, 

 which after crumbling up to some height, at last 

 fell over. Barometer 30. 14. and thermometer 7° — . 

 The constant motion of the ice had precluded 

 the possibility of making satisfactory observations 



n 4 



