140 EXCURSION TO LAND. 



part, the ice had almost entirely disappeared, so 

 that there was every reason to suppose we should 

 be brought up by the inner edge of the pack 

 striking the rocks. If this were realized, it was 

 to be expected that the concussion would not 

 only detach and pulverize the extremity imme- 

 diately in contact, but that the reverberation of 

 the shock might extend itself even to the ship, 

 free her from her icy bonds, and leave her once 

 more to the mercy of drift ice. This was 

 a consummation not to be wished, and I 

 passed a restless night. More than once it was 

 thought that the pack had actually struck the 

 land, but in the morning of Sunday, Oct. 30th, 

 the appearance was found to have been a delu- 

 sion, occasioned by the high and dark line of the 

 coast on this part of Southampton Island which 

 has been already described as adjacent to Cape 

 Comfort. After the accustomed examination, 

 and the religious duties of the day, the whole of 

 the crew, under the guidance of the first lieu- 

 tenant, made an excursion towards the nearest 

 land which, however, they were unable to reach, 

 on account of the interposition of a few feet of 

 water between the pack and the bay ice and 

 sludge adhering to the rocks. The distance from 

 the ship to the spot whence they returned, which 

 was considered about half way, was estimated at 

 something more than a mile. At noon, the 



