APPROXIMATIONS TOWARDS THE POLES. 309 



On the 4th, we observed, that some ships which, 

 four days before, were several miles to the south- 

 ward of us, had, by the peculiar set of the current, 

 revolved to the northward. 



On the 5th, with a light breeze of wind, we pro- 

 ceeded several miles through various intricate chan- 

 nels in the ice, and on the wind dying away to a 

 calm, we advanced by towing * Struck a whale, 

 but lost it by the breaking of tlie line. 



A heavy swell, with a strong wind from the 

 S. W., prevailed on the 6th, by which the situ- 

 ation of the ship was rendered very hazardous. 

 Lay too. 



On the 7th, towed to an ice-berg, and made 

 fast. 



An opening appeared in the ice on the 9th, lead- 

 ing to the northward. IMade sail, and pursued a 

 devious channel during six hours, with the velocity 

 of eight or nine miles an hour. The wind having 

 then increased to a heavy gale, and the ice having 

 become crowded and dangerous, we were obliged to 

 moor. The Foreland in sight. 



The next day the wind was easterly, but mode- 

 rate, and the ice a little slack ; as such, we plied 

 towards the land, and after much critical sailing 



* The process of dragging a ship, or any other body float- 

 ing in water, forward by boats, is called towing. The boats 

 are all connected by ropes to the ship, and are then rowed for- 

 wardj by which the ship is drawn after them. 



