IN THE BOATS. 701 



well enough satisfied with seventeen miles for a day's 

 work, unloaded and camped. 



August 11th, Thursday. — Called all hands at six. 

 Breakfasted at seven. Wind E. N. E. Barometer 

 30.08 at 32°. Temperature 26°. Turned to at eight. 

 The lead still remaining choked we were forced to carry 

 all our traps about three hundred yards along the ice, 

 and we then floated and loaded our boats. Under way 

 at 8.40, and proceeded until 11.45, by which time with 

 oars and sail w r e had made seven miles. Came to 

 alongside a floe for dinner. Much thin young ice close 

 in to the heavy floes, the growth of the night. Saw an 

 oogook. Dunbar fired at him but missed. 



Turned to at one p. m. and proceeded. Sun occa- 

 sionally showing through clouds and fog, but I gener- 

 ally steered by the wind, keeping it on our port beam, 

 or a little abaft it. Consequently we made a course 

 generally between south southeast and south southwest. 



To save all time and distance, I cut off all the corners 

 I could in steering through the ice, and occasionally 

 crowded through some very narrow places, using pick- 

 axe, and jumping out to lighten boat when she grounded 

 on projecting tongues. Once this afternoon w r as obliged 

 to turn back and " go west " for a time. In conse- 

 quence I think we did not make more than nine miles 

 by 5.45, when I ran alongside a drifting floeberg for 

 supper. Mr. Collins here shot a seal, which we shall 

 have for breakfast. Turned to at seven and proceed ed. 

 but after going beautifully south for one and a half 

 hours, were caught in a trap and obliged to go north- 

 west for one half hour before keeping away. Snow 

 now began to fall, and at 9.30 P. M. ran alongside a floe 

 piece, unloaded and hauled up boats, and camped. Ran 

 since supper four miles on our course, — 



