210 Thirty Years 



but it appears they haunt every part of this country 

 in defiance of climate. Mr. Back made an excursion 

 to a hill at seven or eight miles distance, and from its 

 summit he perceived the ice close to the shore as far 

 as his view extended. 



On the morning of the 29 th the party attended di- 

 vine service. About noon the ice appearing less com- 

 pact, we embarked to change our situation, having 

 consumed all the fuel within our reach. The wind 

 came off the land just as the canoes had started, and 

 we determined on attempting to force a passage along 

 the shore ; in which we fortunately succeeded, after 

 seven hours' labor and much hazard to our frail ves- 

 sels. The ice lay so close that the crews disembarked 

 on it, and effected a passage by bearing against the 

 pieces with their poles ; but in conducting the canoes 

 through the narrow channels thus formed, (he great- 

 est care was requisite, to prevent the sharp projecting 

 points from breaking the bark. They fortunately re- 

 ceived no material injury, though they were split in 

 two places. 



At the distance of three miles, we canie to ine en- 



trance of a deep buy, whose bottom was filled by a 

 body of iee bo compact as to preclude the idea of a 



6 through il ; whilst at tie' same time, the tra- 

 verse across its month was attended with linicli dan- 

 ger, from the approach of a large field of ice, which 



