1631. THOMAS JAMES. 249 



tifying cold to wade through the water in the be- 

 ginning of June, when the sea was full of ice, than 

 in December, when it was encreasing." It does 

 not seem to have occurred to Captain James that 

 this feeling was not occasioned by a greater degree 

 of absolute cold, but by the greater difference 

 between the temperature of the air and that of ice- 

 water in June, than in December. 



Towards the middle of April they began to clear 

 away the ice out of their ship, and to see what 

 could be made of her. In the hold they found 

 some beer and wine which had not been frozen, 

 and which was a great comfort to the sick whose 

 condition is described as being most deplorable. 

 The death of the carpenter was a great interrup- 

 tion to their proceedings, but they contrived to 

 supply his place by one or two who could handle 

 a tool. At length, on the 1st of July, all was 

 ready for a start ; the ship's colours were hoisted 

 on the poop and in the main-top, and the foUow- 

 mg day they made sail ; but such was the captain's 

 predilection for the shore and shoal water, that 

 even at this advanced season of the year, and 

 in the low latitude of 52^ the ship " did so 

 strike against the ice, that her fore part would 

 crack again, and make our cook and others run up 

 all amazed and think the ship had been beaten all 

 to pieces." 



Captain James, indeed, contrived, in the whole 

 of his northern passage, to be hampered with ic^ 



