CHAP. V.] CURRENT OF ICE. 303 



the beach, where numerous huge fragments of 

 dilapidated floes were strewed about in con- 

 fusion. They occupied the space lying between 

 the tidal edge and the land, and did not appear 

 to have been of recent production. The density 

 of the atmosphere had deceived us in other 

 respects also ; for that which, from its white 

 smooth glare, had been set down for land ice, 

 now turned out to be the even shelving side of 

 the snow-clad coast. After 5 h p. m. a lane of 

 water opened out on the larboard bow of the 

 ship, and this seemed to be the beginning of a 

 general movement immediately around us ; for 

 soon after, the ice in every direction was evidently 

 easing down from those formidable ramparts into 

 which it had been thrown, and settling into a 

 freer space. We were at the time crossing the 

 bend of a bay, and it was observed that the ice 

 was set by the tide and current in a circle, as if 

 within the influence of an eddy ; but as this, 

 from the straight line of bearing of the southern 

 land, was scarcely probable, the effect may have 

 been produced by the meeting of counter cur- 

 rents from the north and south. Be the cause, 

 however, what it might, we were in momentary 

 expectation of seeing the two remaining floe 

 pieces on which we were partly poised, separate, 

 so as to allow the ship to settle into the water ; 

 especially, when the outer portion of the cracked 



