JOURNAL. 65 



fo confiderable a diftance by boats, was not without Augufl. 



very ferious difficulties. Should we remain much longer 



here, the bad weather muft be expected to fet in. 



The flay of the Dutchmen to the Northward is very 



doubtful : if the Northern harbours keep clear, they 



ftay till the beginning of September; but when the loofe 



ice fets in, they quit them immediately. 1 thought 



it proper to fend for the officers of both fhips, and 



informed them of my intention of preparing the boats 



for going away. I immediately hoifted out the boats, 



and took every precaution in my power to make them 



fecure and comfortable : the fitting would neceflarily take 



up fome days. The water fhoaling, and the (hips driving 



faft towards the rocks to the N E, I ordered canvafs 



bread-bags to be made, in cafe it (hould be neceflary very 



fuddenly to betake ourfelves to the boats : I alfo fent a man 



with a lead and line to the Northward, and another from 



the Carcafs to theEaflward, to found wherever they found 



cracks in the ice, that we might have notice before either 



the fbips, or the ice to which they were faft, took the 



ground ; as in that cafe, they muft inftantly have been 



cruftied or overfet. The weather bad ; moft part of the 



day foggy, and rather cold. 



7th. In the morning I fet out v/ith the Launch over 

 the ice ; ftie hauled much eafier than I could have ex- 

 peded ; we got her about two miles. I then returned 

 with the people for their dinner. Finding the ice rather 



K more 



