440 ^\- 1 1 A 1 .E-l' 1 S I! TAX y . 



masses of wbicli, as hard as rocks, might be seen at 

 one instant covered with foam, the next concealed 

 from the siglit by the w.ives, and instantly after- 

 wards reared to a prodigions height above the sur- 

 face of tlie sea ! It is needless to relate the means 

 by which we attempted to keep the ship clear of 

 the threatened danger, because those means were 

 without avail. At 11 v. M. we were close to the 

 ice, when, perceiving through the mist, an opening 

 a short distance within, we directed the drift of the 

 ship towards it. As we approached the ice, the 

 sails were filled, so that the first blow was received 

 obliquely on the bow, when the velocity of the ship 

 was moderate. In this place, the pieces of ice were 

 fortunately of smallish dimensions ; at least, all the 

 larger masses we were enabled to avoid, so that, af- 

 ter receiving a number of shocks, we escaped with- 

 out any particular accident into the opening, or slack 

 part of the ice above noticed. This opening, as far 

 as we could see, promised a safe and permanent re- 

 lease. But in this we were grievously disappointed : 

 for, when we attempted to ware the ship, which soon 

 became necessary, she refused to turn round, not- 

 withstanding every effort, in a space which, in ordi- 

 nary circumstances, would have been twice sufficient 

 for the evolution. In consequence of this accident, 

 which arose partly from the bad trim of the ship, 

 iind partly from the great violence of the wind, she 

 fell to leeward into a close body of ice, to which wc 



