Chap. VI. CAPTAIN PARRY'S SECOND VOYAGE. 201 



most dangerous for ships to anchor in any part near 

 the eastern mouth of the strait. 



The 24th of September having now arrived, 

 Parry considered it no longer safe to venture the 

 ships to remain in this sea, their situation being 

 one of almost constant and unavoidable danger. 

 He determined, therefore, to run over to Igloolik, 

 in search of winter quarters, which was accom- 

 plished, though not without imminent danger to 

 both ships. The situation was not very favourable 

 for passing the winter in, but by cutting a canal in 

 the ice as usual, they were placed in security. The 

 whole length of this canal was four thousand three 

 hundred and forty-three feet ; the thickness of the 

 ice in the level and regular parts from twelve to 

 fourteen inches, but in many places where a sepa- 

 ration had occurred it amounted to several feet. 

 " I cannot," says Parry, "sufficiently do justice to 

 the cheerful alacrity with which the men continued 

 this laborious work during thirteen days, the ther- 

 mometer being frequently at zero, and once as low 

 as — 9° in that interval.'* 



Being now established in winter quarters for the 

 second time in the present voyage, Parry's thoughts 

 were naturally employed in considering what further 

 steps should be pursued, and what expedient he 

 should have recourse to, on their liberation from 

 the ice some ten or eleven months hence. His 

 resolute and enterprising character was not likely 

 to be satisfied with the little progress that had been 



