A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 237 



personal safety, was only concerned about his own comforts. 

 The boats were hoisted out, with intent to drag them over 

 the ice until they should reach the open sea. 



In this dreadful alternative, of remaining to perish in 

 that inhospitable place, or encounter the dangers of the 

 ocean in light open boats, one of those " convulsions of 

 nature," so frequently observed in the icy seas, relieved 

 them from their miserable situation. The ice having ac- 

 cumulated against Spitzbergen, and pressed against on 

 the western side by the unbroken iield ice, in that direc- 

 tion, the current from the north at the same time urging 

 the pack to the southward, the ice began to give way, and 

 the sutierers hailed the opening with joy. They saAv the 

 ships which they had abandoned beginning to move, and 

 immediately hastened on board, in' the hope of deliverance 

 from their perilous situation, and the wind having shifted 

 from an easterly to a N.E. wind, which was, in fact, the 

 cause of the " convulsion of nature," the ice gave way 

 freely before the current, and the ships were set at liberty. 



After this fortunate escape from a miserable death, the 

 Toyagers had not much spirit to persevere, nor would 

 their endeavours, it appears, have been of much avail, as 

 the state of the season was not favourable to the enterprise. 

 The chart, made on the occasion, exhibits many lines of 

 traverse made in the hope of finding the passage to the 

 Pole ; but the utmost advance effected was no further 



