410 OUR PROGRESS OBSTRUCTED 



ice as far as the narrowest part of the small 

 isthmus that joined the island to the main, and 

 then to have made a portage of boat and cargo to 

 the west side, where, at present, there was a lane 

 of open water, connected with that leading to the 

 distant western land ; but the immense size of 

 the pieces, and the firmness with which they 

 were wedged together, rendered the scheme to- 

 tally impracticable. Though the thermometer 

 was at 42°, yet, being wet, we were chilly and 

 uncomfortable, and our cheerless condition was 

 greatly aggravated by the want of fire. A watch 

 was set in the night, to enable us to take advan- 

 tage of any movement of the ice which might aid 

 our progress. The steersmen relieved each other 

 also, in going to and from the island for the same 

 purpose ; but all was in vain : it still remained 

 packed, some even floating southward into the 

 harbour ; and, to add to our wretchedness, the 

 rain scarcely ceased for a moment, and the wea- 

 ther continued raw and cold. This, together 

 with the want of warm food, excited my appre- 

 hensions for the health of the crew, and the 

 rather, as one (M c Kenzie) had been for some 

 days swollen and bloated so as to be incapacitated 

 from performing his regular duty, and, what was 

 at this time of most consequence, from going into 

 the water at all ; happily, however, no other had 

 as yet complained. 



I again crossed over to the hillock through 



