OLD WHALING DAYS. 133 



sprang up ahead, which prevented us towing in that direc- 

 tion, and seeing an opening between two islands more 

 inshore, we set the fore and aft canvas, expecting this passage 

 would bring us to the northward of the other fleet. 



Here we met with another disappointment, in rinding a 

 piece of land ice extending from one island to the other. It 

 was not more than a quarter of a mile wide, but it prevented 

 our progress. Our retreat was also cut off, as the loose ice 

 had come down ; so we were obliged to make fast to icebergs. 



This neighbourhood consists of numerous small islands 

 and sunken rocks, extending far from the mainland. Our 

 little fleet was composed of six ships. We were close to the 

 large glaciers at a place called Ankapadluk. We saw some" 

 massive bergs break off, which made a heavy swell, and 

 broke our warps. 



The detention at this place was the cause of us not 

 getting a full ship, and the loss of two vessels soon after in 

 Melville Bay. A light breeze ultimately springing up from 

 the southward, broke away the barrier of ice. We cast off 

 from the berg, and ran through the channel between the 

 islands. The water was so shallow that the rocks could 

 plainly be seen under the ship's bottom as we sailed along. 

 We had passed the most dangerous part in safety, when the 

 wind increased, with thick snow. We were obliged to run 

 and take the risk, as there was no place of shelter. Two 

 large icebergs, scarcely a ship's length apart, appeared ahead, 

 and the only alternative was to run between them. 



We were no sooner through than the bergs closed with a 

 terrible crash, splintering huge masses from their sides. 

 Luckily, we did not perceive them closing until they were 

 passed. One must have been aground and the other afloat. 

 It is surprising how those massive pieces of ice travel 

 amongst such broken ground as there is here. Large 

 glaciers are in this neighbourhood, and it is the most rocky 

 part in Davis's Straits. 



