PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 427 



Thursday, 24th August. At two a. m., a fine c *Jap. 

 breeze rising at E. S. E., we weighed, but found the , ~^y— ' 

 current so strong against us that we lost ground and ^the - *™ 6 

 anchored again : the current setting north (mag.) Bar s e - 

 three miles and a half an hour. At three we were 

 alarmed at the sudden appearance of the ice, which 

 was drifting fast down on us. No time was to be 

 lost. The crew were instantly sent on shore with a 

 warp. We got up the anchor, and hauled within 

 eight or ten yards of the beach, it being steep 

 enough to admit our proceeding thus close. We 

 now began tracking the boat along, and proceeded 

 for a short time without much difficulty ; but the 

 ice increasing fast, and the pieces getting larger, 

 she received some violent blows. The main body 

 nearing the shore to the distance of about 100 yards 

 left this space less incumbered, and occasioned an 

 increase in the rapidity of the current one knot an 

 hour. To add to our perplexities, at five the wind 

 freshened up at south (directly against us), and we 

 also had the mortification to observe the ice speedily 

 connecting with the beach, scarcely leaving an open 

 space visible. Nothing now but the greatest exer- 

 tion could extricate the boat ; and the crew, willing 

 to make the most of every trifling advantage, gave 

 a hearty cheer, and forced her through thick and 

 heavy ice until we rounded a projecting point that 

 had hitherto obstructed our view. This, however, 

 could only be accomplished with considerable labour 

 and risk ; for here, as in many other places, we had 

 to take the track-line up cliffs, frequently covered 

 with hard snow and ice, which, hanging a consider- 

 able distance over the water, prevented the possi- 

 bility of getting round beneath. The rope was 



