128 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. August 



On the morning of the 7th, the wind still blowing 

 strong from the north-east, but slightly off the land on 

 our side of the channel, the ice eased off shore and 

 cleared the nip round the ship, but did not allow us to 

 move to a more sheltered position. 



In the afternoon, a temporary opening occurring, 

 steam was raised and the rudder shipped, but owing to 

 some of the ropes fouling, the latter was not ready 

 before the ice closed in and imprisoned us again. 



From the summit of Cape Beechey, Polaris Bay, 

 being a weather shore, was observed to be quite clear 

 of ice, with water extending to a distance of five or 

 six miles from the land. Hall's Basin was full of ice 

 drifting quickly to the southward with the wind and 

 tide. 



While the ship was detained at Cape Beechey, 

 Captain Feilden obtained some Eskimo relics. The 

 spot where he found them is evidently the northern 

 limit of the migration of these people on the west side 

 of the channel. From thence they have crossed to 

 Polaris Bay, where their traces are again met with. 

 In the same neighbourhood several rings of stones 

 marking the sites of summer tents were found ; and 

 in one locality numerous flakes of rock crystal which 

 had been broken off in the process of making arrow 

 or harpoon heads. 



On the morning of the 8th the wind was blowing 

 very strongly down the channel, and completely pre- 

 vented any ice drifting to the northward with the ebb- 

 tide. With the flood, the pack was carried past us at 

 the rate of two miles an hour. 



Owing to several heavy pieces of ice grounding out- 



