CAPTAIN m'CLURR S DESPATCHES . 7 



when the fair sex became tlic recipients. It was by the greatest acci- 

 dent tliat the theft was discovered by the end of one handle protruding, 

 from beneath the ample proportions of the lady, who, when taxed, 

 immediately returned the articles, and informed upon lier husband. 

 For this immorality the whole boat was exempted from receiving any 

 present. Working to the eastward observed a few deer upon one of 

 the low islands, but was prevented sending any boat, as a south east cur- 

 rent was setting us into shoal water very fast, so that all the boats were 

 required to tow until 8 p.m., when a light air ran us to the westward 

 into six fathoms ; the loose ice was in rapid motion, and the larger floe 

 pieces, as they passed, appeared to create a current which frerpiently 

 turned the vessel completely round against helm and sails, the power of 

 a two-knot breeze being insufficient to counteract it. On the morning 

 of the 13th we were enveloped in a dense fog, among exceedingly heavy 

 and close-sailing ice, through which we attempted to work, but found 

 that endeavouring to avoid one ])icce we ran upon anotlier, striking 

 occasionally with great force, wliich determined me to secure to a floe 

 until it cleared. In this we fortunately succeeded, getting one that was 

 grounded in seven fathoms. It was a heavy piece, but not so much so 

 as many that were about us. I took its height above the water in seven 

 places, which gave an average of 1 1 feet 1 1 inches ; a pack chiefly 

 composed of such would be too powerful a foe for any ship long to con- 

 tend against. At 8 a.m. of the 14th, it having cleared ahttle, slipped 

 from the floe, and commenced working to the eastward among masses 

 of ice. At 10-30 a.m. observed a shoal just in time to avoid it ; it 

 was completely hidden from view off deck, not being as high as the 

 ice, iiaving a quantity of driftwood upon it, which is in great abundance 

 along the coast. At 3-30 p.m. our course was impeded by another of 

 these low islands, which had the ice resting upon its northern extreme, 

 while the southern point was flanked by a slioal, which connected it 

 Avifli the island seen in the morning. "We were thus perfectly hemmed 

 in. The boats were sent to sound, when ^Mr. Court represented a pas- 

 f age })ractical)le in 3 fathoms. In running through we unfortunately 

 liit upon a spot with only 2^ tatlioms, which had escaped observation ; 

 we had consequently to lighten the vessel considerably before she got 

 off, which, however, was accomplisiied without any damage (the bottom 

 l)eing sand) by 11 p.m., having been on shore five hours. I regret to 

 add, that eleven casks of salt meat, which were placed in the first 

 whale-boat, were lost by her upsetting, being compelled to place the 

 jH'ovisious in the whalers, the cutters having the bower anchors in 

 them. This was a serioiis lossj indeed, an irreparable calamity. As 

 soon as we were oif, it was my wish to return by the way we came in, 

 but we found that the ice had set upon the shoal we had first observed, 

 and cut off our retreat, under which circumstances I was obliged to 

 anchor and wait a change of wind. Upon the Kith the wind came 

 slightly from the westward, which set the ice in motion off the north 

 point of the island. At 9 a.m. weighed and towed to the edge of the 

 ice, ^^hich })resented a barrier of about .500 yards in width betv.een us 

 and the 0}>('n water we wished to get into. We commenced warping at 

 2 p.m., and so heavy was the ice that it was not until 8 p.m. that we 

 could get through ; it fell calm, so made fast to tlie ice for the night. 

 Next morning, the l/th, n very thick fog, with light north-east wind, 

 and at 4 a.m. commenced kedging to the eastward, but at 7 a.m. gave 



