CAPTAIN M'cLURe's DESPATCHES. 35 



in a large bay entirely covered with ice, formed by another cape three 

 miles S.E., compelhng us, at G.30 a.m., to make fast immediately be- 

 neath the cliff, the summit of which nearly plumbing the hatchways, 

 rendered our position very unsafe, many fragments appearing so loose 

 from the action of frost and water that a shght concussion would 

 have brought them down. At 1 1 a.m. the ice eased a little from the 

 land, when we again endeavoured to force towards the S.E., aided by 

 a westerly wind and warping ; but in the afternoon the fog became so 

 dense, with an easterly breeze, that we made fast to the land floe ; in which 

 a small dock was formed with the assistance of the little powder, about a 

 mile from our forenoon's position, remaining until the morning of the 

 22nd, when a little progress was made towards the S.E., our opera- 

 tions by warping being brought to a termination. x\t 1 p.m. having 

 reached the cape (Crozier), upon the south-eastern side of which the ice 

 was resting, and having secured to a ridge 20 feet in heigth lying at its 

 base, I proceeded with Mr. Court to its summit for the purpose of examin- 

 ing the coast line towards the S.E. A deep bay, extending 30 miles in 

 that direction, filled with ice, which was commencing to move bodily to 

 the westward, and of a much less formidable character than that we had 

 been subjected to, while what was lying along the shore was small and 

 widely detached, well repaid the toil of ascent. Indeed, since rounding 

 Cape Austen, it has lost much of its terrible aspect, which led to the 

 inference that we were fairly in Barrow's Strait, and that the m.ain Polar 

 pack takes a direct line from the last-mentioned cape to the E.N.E., and 

 that which fills these bays and is carried down Barrow's Strait is the 

 comparatively small ice which drifts from its southern edge, as we have 

 invariably remarked that there is a decidedly easterly current, w^hich 

 impels the enormous Polar floes on that course while the lighter, influ- 

 enced by wind, is oftentimes setting in an opposite direction. This 

 cape (Crozier) is 250 feet perpendicular, presenting among its debris 

 many interesting geological specimens ; it is composed of lime and 

 sandstone, having fossiliferous shells i?hbedded, also pieces of coal and 

 petrefactions of wood, identical with what has been met with upon other 

 parts of this large island and upon the Princess Royal Isles. 



At 3.30 a.m. of the 23rd, although not dayhght, open water was ascer- 

 tained to be at hand, from the dark appearance of the horizon to 

 seaward. The vessel was cast off, and, standing in that direction, we 

 found we had not been deceived ; the wind during the forenoon coming 

 from the vv^estward, enabled us to run close along the shore, on which 

 still rested a line of thin ice, rendering the entrance of what appeared 

 three good harbours inaccessible. The lai^J was much less rugged, 

 having small hills gradually sloping to the beach, and large valleys well 

 calculated for the pasture lands of animals ; but no particle of driftwood 

 could be observed, — which article has not been seen, excepting the small 

 chips near the ligneous hills, since rounding Point Kellett, on the 

 western shore. At 5.30 p.m. our course was nearly obstructed, from 

 the ice resting upon a point about two miles distant ; the studding sails 

 were taken in, but almost immediately reset, as it gradually opened, 

 allowing sufficient space for our passage by topping up the lower booms. 

 The shore shortly trending more to the southward increased our water, 

 but snow and thick weather, with night coming on, rendered the land 

 not 200 yards distant barely discernible ; most anxious, however, at the 



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