414 FLOE-PIECES Ii\ MOTION. [CHAP.VI. 



Some islands lay off, and, though evidently of no 

 mean altitude, were completely in shade under 

 these towering cliffs. Harbours and deep bights 

 were sufficiently defined, but all were choked 

 with ice, and unapproachable except by such 

 pressure as we had no desire to experience. 

 Two pumps were still required to keep the ship 

 free. A whale was seen and several morses. 

 Throughout the afternoon large floe pieces were 

 observed to be setting in atmost every direction, 

 even against the wind, which had considerably 

 increased in strength ; and frequently we were 

 not a little embarrassed to protect the rudder 

 against their assault, being compelled to make 

 use of warps to avoid them. The carpenter, on 

 examining the lining below, found that the 

 water trickled through still higher than before, 

 and that, in consequence, the ship's draught was 

 augmented to fourteen feet eleven inches fore 

 and aft, being three inches deeper than when 

 she righted from the ice. 



Finding that the ice continued in motion, and 

 that there was a lead somewhat nearer the land, 

 I now decided on trying it, as not the slightest 

 probability appeared of an opening towards the 

 north shore, where, on the contrary, the view 

 presented only one compact body of impene- 

 trable ice. Although, therefore, I was not with- 

 out some anxiety of being closed in against the 



