In the Arctic Regions. 431 



found the ice so closely packed that we could neither 

 advance nor effecl a landing. We, therefore, pulled 

 to seaward, and turned the boat's head to tl 



ward, to trace the outer bonier of the ice. In this 

 situation we were exposed to great danger from 

 sudden change of wind to S.E., which raised a heavy 

 BWell, and brought down upon us masses of ice of a 

 si/.'' that, tossed as they were by tin.; waves, would 

 have injured a ship. We could only catch occasional 

 glimpses of the laud through the fog, and were kepi 

 in the most anxious suspense, pulling in and out be- 

 tween the floating masses of ire, for five hours, before 

 we could gel near the shore. We landed a little to 

 the west of Point Babine, and only found sufli- 

 cient spare for tin- boats and tents between the 

 bank and the water. The rain ceased for a short 

 time in the evening, and, during this interval, we per- 

 ceived, from the top of the bank, that the whole space 



between us and the distant point, as well as the chan- 

 nel by which we had advanced to the westward, Wi 

 now completely blocked ; so that we had good real 

 to congratulate ourselves on having reached thesh 

 in safety. 



