412 ship's draught increased, [chap. VI. 



space was 35° -f , was, when surrounded with ice, 

 only 31° -f. The effectual labours of the car- 

 penter began to be manifested by a small but 

 perceptible diminution of the depth of water in 

 the well : in consequence, however, of the 

 wood becoming sodden, the ship had increased 

 her draught of water about two and a half inches. 

 We found ourselves setting, as was supposed, 

 fast to the south-east ; and, in the evening, the 

 floe to which we were attached split into three 

 pieces, though leaving our part still large enough 

 to hang on by. 



July 21st. The ice had driven us nearer to 

 the Labrador Coast, a few miles from which was 

 an island conjectured to be that called Weggs. 

 The main shore was high and apparently rocky, 

 being diversified by hill and valley, where streaks 

 and patches of snow yet remained. The channel 

 between it and Charles Island seemed wide, and 

 probably contributed to form some of the eccen- 

 tric whirls, or currents, which every now and then 

 visibly affected the ice. In the forenoon we 

 were obliged to get more warps out, to haul the 

 ship out of the way of such floe pieces as threat- 

 ened to drive against the rudder; for, though the 

 south shore might have been approached, there 

 was not the smallest opening to the north and 

 east, nor indeed to the west. Two whales were 

 seen, and a narwhale, together with a few boat- 



