NAERATIVE OF A VOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEN. 477 



Oil the 8th, we stretched to the S. S. E. until 

 5 A. M., in a free navigation, though ice in vast bo- 

 dies extended on either side us. A floe then inter- 

 rupting our course, we were obliged to work to wind- 

 ward of it ; a field afterwards appeared connected 

 with it, along the side of which we had still to beat 

 against the wind, towed by the John, a distance of 

 several miles. At 10 P. m. there appeared a fa- 

 vourable channel leading to the S. E., which we 

 pursued ; and, after winding among numerous pieces 

 of drift-ice, vdth occasional heav}'^ floes, until the 

 morning of the 9th, we again had the relief of an 

 easy navigation. This day we had a gentle favour- 

 able wind, with pleasant clear weather. Several 

 ships were seen. Saw a whale, and sent from the 

 two ships, three boats in pursuit, but were not suc- 

 cessful. The John, running foul of a piece of ice, 

 in attempting to drag us round it, launched upon a 

 tongue, and grounded. She remained about half 

 an hour immoveable ; meanwhile we proceeded alone. 

 At mid-night we saw the land, Charles' Island, or 

 the Foreland, about 60 miles distant ; at the same 

 time, we passed clear, to seaward, of all the ice with- 

 in sight. Latitude 77° 24' N. 



Our carpenter continued his labours in the after- 

 hold, with some effect, though, in general, fresh 

 leaks were daily breaking out. For the security of 

 the ceiling, a great number of stanchions were 

 placed between it and the beams of the gun-room 



