16 Reach the Coast of Greenland. 



the coast of Greenland. We now pushed due west^ and soon 

 found ourselves hampered amongst immense fields of ice. On 

 the 3d, the light winds and fog continued, we found ourselves 

 frequently in very narrow channels ; and not being able to see 

 our way we received some shocks, though not of great import- 

 ance. The water being smooth, and the ship having but little 

 way upon her, my anxiety to get forward made me continue to 

 advance, when perhaps it would have been better to have made 

 fast to a floe. 



In the afternoon the sun began to appear, and the fog dis- 

 persed. We found ourselves close to an extensive field of ice, the 

 termination of which we could not discover. Hauled up to the 

 S. W. and S. The winds continuing light and favourable, set the 

 studding-sails, and, by tying the tacks along the yards, were able 

 to brace all round together when necessary, to alter our course 

 for the ice. From the appearance of the sky, we concluded 

 there was clear water beyond it to the westward. 



On the 4th the weather was clear and favourable. Continued 

 to advance along the edge of the ice, the termination of whicb 

 we could not yet observe. Beyond it we discovered land N.W. 

 by W. Estimated distance 50 miles. At noonhove-to, and sent 

 a boat to a piece of ice to observe the latitude, which was found 

 to be 74° 4' 47". At one, our course was impeded by a narrow 

 channel ; shortened sail and warped through it, and again made 

 sail in the evening : it was foggy ; but having observed the chan- 

 nel to lead in with the land, before it came on, we continued our 

 way close along the edges ctf the fields of ice, making or short- 

 ening sail when necessary. 



Tuesday 5th. — Impeded by the ice we shortened sail and cut 

 our way into a narrow channel, when we made sail, but were 

 again interrupted, — clewed up and furled with the yards at the 

 mast-head, and were employed several hours in warping, track- 

 ing, and towing, the ice being close and heavy, with a few pools 

 of water apparently leading in with the land, which appeared to 

 be about 7 or 8 leagues distant. Latitude observed, 74* 4'. 

 The three following days we were engaged in the same manner^ 

 forcing our way through the barrier from one lead to another; fre- 

 quently stopped altogether for several hours at a time. During 

 these four days we were engaged passing the barrier of ice, our 



3 



