414 VOYAGE TO THE 



wind, he had to contend with a current running to 

 the north-east at the rate of three miles and a half 

 fsle. an hour, and with large pieces of floating ice which 

 he found it very difficult to avoid, until he was at 

 last obliged to anchor to prevent being carried back. 

 It was not long before he was so closely beset in the 

 ice, that no clear water could be seen in any direc- 

 tion from the hills ; and the ice continuing to press 

 against the shore, his vessel was driven upon the 

 beach, and there left upon her broadside in a most 

 helpless condition ; and to add to his cheerless pro- 

 spect, the disposition of the natives, whom he had 

 found to increase in numbers as he advanced to the 

 northward, was of very doubtful character. At 

 Point Barrow, where they were extremely numerous, 

 their overbearing behaviour, and the thefts they 

 openly practised, left no doubt of what would be 

 the fate of his little crew in the event of its fall- 

 ing into their power. They were in this dilemma 

 several days, during which every endeavour was 

 made to extricate the vessel, but without effect; 

 and Mr. Elson contemplated sinking her secretly 

 in a lake that was near, to prevent her falling into 

 the hands of the Esquimaux, and then making 

 his way along the coast in a baidar, which he had 

 no doubt he should be able to purchase from the 

 natives. At length, however, a change of wind 

 loosened the ice ; and after considerable labour and 

 toil, in which the personal strength of the officers 

 was united to that of the seamen, our shipmates for- 

 tunately succeeded in effecting their escape. 



The farthest tongue of land which they reached 

 is conspicuous as being the most northerly point yet 

 discovered on the continent of America ; and I 



