CHAP. V.] SHIP REMAINS NIPPED. 239 



mocks, mounds, jagged and warted masses, 

 splinters, walls, and ramparts, with here and 

 there, at far intervals, the remains of some floe 

 not yet entirely broken up ; — such was the 

 picture which saluted us on every side, teach- 

 ing the lesson of humility and resignation to 

 the will of Heaven. Much ice was forced un- 

 derneath the bottom on the starboard side, 

 and often bounded up with severe concussions 

 along the run abaft, making the ship tremble at 

 each successive shock. The angle of inclination 

 on that side was nine degrees. 



Up to noon scarcely any alteration took place, 

 the vessel remaining heavily nipped. It had been 

 remarked during the last eight or ten days, that 

 from the early part of the day until a few hours 

 past noon, we had been regularly set to the west ; 

 but now, the ship's head had not only been turned 

 more out, and consequently in a better direction 

 for going along the coast, but we were drifted 

 by the ice to the north west until 3 h 30 m p. m. 

 when we seemed to be stationary. Among the 

 numerous cracks around, were several astern, 

 that after a temporary separation generally closed 

 again ; but an entirely new one now opened, 

 from fifteen to twenty feet wide, within the short 

 distance of thirty paces from the quarter : not far 

 from this, and completely isolating the high 

 hummock which under the name of Mount 



