60 SECOND VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 



1821. land, ill spite of everv endeavour to regain the month of the inlet. In the aftcr- 



Ausiist. 1 J n , I • 1, 



noon the ice became so close, though the masses were constantly and rapidly 

 in motion among themselves, that it was impracticable any longer to keep 

 under way, and we were just about to make the Fury fast to a large floe- 

 piece when I was informed that our boat was coming off from the shore, from 

 which we were then distant eight or nine miles. At four P.M. Captain Lyon 

 and his party disembarked on the opposite side of a broad stream of ice which 

 intervened betwixt us, and some fresh hands being despatched to assist in 

 dragging the boat over the ice, they soon arrived safely on board. The 

 account of Captain Lyon's excursion and of his discoveries within the 

 inlet, on which the future operations of the Expedition principally depended, 

 I need offer no apology for giving in his own words. 



Thur. 23. " On leaving the Fury, we pulled to the eastern point of the high land 

 which formed the western boundary of the inlet, and in half an hour landed 

 on a steep rocky point, near which much heavy ice lay aground. We then 

 with our tent and baggage proceeded to a high barren hill to the northward, 

 from whence we clearly perceived tliat we were on an island of about five 

 miles in length, and two or three in breadth. To the northward and east- 

 ward lay a broad strait, (which, at the part nearest us, was above a mile 

 across,) running east and west. Previous to descending the hill, Mr. Bushnan 

 and myself took such bearings as the weather would permit, and as it was 

 dark by the time we arrived at the boat, I determined on remaining where 

 we were for the night ; we therefore pitched our tent on the rocks, and 

 lay down until the morning. During the night, the ice set out past the 

 point we lay on, at the rate of at least four knots, and the pressure occa- 

 sioned it to break with loud and sharp reports, as it passed the low rocks 

 and grounded pieces, over which it became piled in many places to a great 

 height. 



Frid. 24. " Much rain fell during the nigiit, which was dark and cold with a light 

 wind. At two A.M., before the day began to break, we found that it 

 was slack water, but the eastern entrance was literally i)acked with ice, 

 through which a passage was impossible. The grounded pieces, however, 

 being very heavy, afforded us an occasional channel of clear water between 

 them and the rocks. We therefore launched our boat, and by tracking and 

 rowing, succeeded, after nearly two hours' labour, in reaching the northern 



