28 CAPTAIN m'cLURe's DESPATCHES. 



grounded ice upon them, towards which we were directly setting, de- 

 creasing the soundings from 24 to 9| fathoms. Destruction was, 

 apparently, not far distant, when, most opportunely, the ice ceased a 

 little, and, a fresh wind coming from the land, sail was immediately 

 made, which, assisted by warps, enabled the ship to be forced ahead 

 about 200 yards, which shot us clear of ice and point into 16^ fathoms, 

 in which water we rounded the shoals ; the ice then again closed, and 

 the ship became fixed until the 14th, when the fog, which since the 

 previous day had been very dense, cleared, and discovered open water 

 about half-a-mile from the vessel, with the ice loose about her ; at noon 

 commenced warping, and at 3 p.m. passed into it with a light breeze 

 from the north-east that carried us some distance along the eastern shore. 

 At 11 p m. the fog was so thick that we were compelled to make fast to 

 a floe, having, while standing in shore, stirred up the mud while in stays, 

 shooting from no soundings at 25 fathoms to a quarter less 3, which 

 convinced me of the impracticability of remaining under way, as, had we 

 been set on the beach, the ice, which came in before a freshening north- 

 easter out of Barrow's Strait, would most effectually have detained us 

 there. Previously to quitting the floe 1 was desirous of trying what 

 effect blasting would have upon such a mass. A jar, containing 3G ll)s. 

 of powder, was let down 12 feet into the water near the centre; tlie 

 average thickness was 1 1 feet, and its diameter 400 yards. The result 

 was most satisfactory, rending it in every direction, so that with the 

 greatest ease we could effect a passage through any part of it. August 1 5, 

 at S a.m., the fog cleared a little, which showed the lAse of the cliffs 

 very close, although we were in 42 fathoms. Having water to the 

 westward, we instantly made sail in that quarter, and at 11 a.m., being 

 unable to see in any direction, again made fast, having carried away the 

 spankerboom in breaking through a neck of ice, which forced the vessel 

 from the wind, causing it to jibe. Our soundings increased to 62 fathoms, 

 and the ice was ascertained to be setting bodily a mile and a half an hour 

 to the west- south-west, so that, upon the weather clearing, at 30 minutes 

 a.m. of the Ifith we found the vessel had been drifted 1.5 miles to the 

 south-west. As there was, however, water to the eastward, every exer- 

 tion was made to reach it by warping, and at 3 a.m. succeeded, working 

 along the eastern shore to ascertain wliat probability existed of being 

 able to round the pack, and thus get into liarrow's Strait, from which 

 we were not distant more than 25 miles. At 9 a.m. all hopes disap- 

 peared, as a clear view from the crow's-nest discovered the ice to be 

 closelv packed, resting upon Point Lady Rose, extending in one unbroken 

 line to the op[)Osite side of the strait. This determined me to give up 

 all idea of prosecuting our search in this direction. Having been foiled 

 in attempting tliis passage tlie latter end of one season and at the com- 

 mencement of another, 1 considered it not practicable, except under the 

 favourable circumstance of a continuance of south-westerly winds, which 

 would drive the ice into Barrow's Strait; but I imagine there would be 

 little difficulty in coming from the north-cast, from which quarter we 

 found the winds prevail. Our greatest advance in that direction was 

 lat. 73° 13' 43" N., long. 115° 32' 30" \V. Accordingly, at 9.30 a.m. 

 we bore up with tlie intention of runiiing to the southward of Nelson's 

 Head, and continuing our search along the western side of Baring's 

 I.sland, with the hoj)e of reaching the entrance of Barrow's Strait by that 

 route ; as, from the report of Lieutenant Cresswell, I felt convinced that 



