CHAP.V.] REFLECTIONS. 315 



wind blowing slantingly from Hudson's Bay and 

 the Straits. Considerably to the west, near the 

 spot where we had passed the last three weeks, 

 was a dark water sky, and accordingly from the 

 crow's-nest, water was seen in the direction and 

 to the extent so pointed out. It seems, therefore, 

 certain that on this coast the first place where a 

 channel is to be looked for is along the land, 

 though probably with some winds not extending 

 far, unless on favourable occasions, such as the 

 one experienced in the last autumn, when an un- 

 hampered vessel might have sailed round the 

 island. Farther out, whatever the prevailing wind, 

 a ship must be immovably beset, and dependent 

 altogether upon the drift of the entire body of 

 ice : if that take her into clear water, well ; if not, 

 she must submit to the event. Undoubtedly a 

 vessel is more secure when beset than when 

 comparatively at liberty. In the former case, so 

 long as the ice remains firm, she is exempted 

 from serious pressure, and tolerably safe; whereas 

 along the land, every rock, bank, or projecting 

 point, catches the moving mass, and subjects the 

 unhappy vessel to all the disastrous effects. 

 It is in this sudden stoppage, or in nautical 

 phraseology, ' bringing up,' that all the danger 

 lies. 



April 13th. The wind had veered a little to the 



east, and freshened, so that by noon we had been 



