1294 ACCOUNT OF THE AIICTIC KEGIONS. 



where sailing was practicable, and boring* or 

 drifting, where the pieces of ice lay close together, 

 we at length reached the leeward part of a narrow 

 channel, in which' we had to ply a considerable 

 distance against the wind. When perfoiming this, 

 the wind, which had hitherto blown a brisk breeze 

 from the north, increased to a strong gale. The 

 ship was placed in such a critical situation, that we 

 could not for above an hour accomplish any reduc- 

 tion of the sails ; and while I was personally en- 

 gaged performing the duty of a pilot from the top- 

 mast-head, the bending of the mast was so uncom- 

 mon, that I Mas seriously alarmed for its stability. 

 At length, v/e were enabled to reef our sails, and for 

 some time proceeded with less danger. We continued 

 to manoeuvre among the ice in those situations where 

 its separation was most considerable. Our direction 

 was now east, then north for several hours, then 

 easterly ten or fifteen miles ; — when, after eighteen 

 hours of the most difficult, and occasionally ha- 

 zardous sailing, in which the ship received some 

 hard blows from the ice ; after pursuing a devious 

 course nearly ninety miles, and accomplishing a 

 distance on a direct north-east course of about forty 



* Boring is the operation of forcing a ship through crowded 

 ice by the agency of the wind on the sails. The impetus of 

 the ship is studiously directed against the opposing pieces, and 

 a passage thereby effected. It can be performed only with fa- 

 vourable winds. 



