Annoying Detentions. 269 



days. Our only way of escape is by retracing our 

 steps to the northward, and getting round the north 

 end of the middle ice ; but the weather has become 

 so thick, accompanied by snow, that it is impossible 

 to see our way out, and we are now lying, hove to, 

 waiting for it to clear. We received a visit to-day 

 from Captain Gravill, of the " Camperdown," bring- 

 ing us his home letters. At noon to-day we were 

 abreast of Cape Bisson, and I obtained tolerably 

 good sights. 



Friday, August 22nd. — This detention is most 

 annoying. Ten days ago we considered ourselves 

 homeward bound, and, anticipating a quick ran 

 across the Atlantic, were looking forward to being 

 in Dundee by the 1st of September; instead of 

 which we are now jammed in a water hole off Cape 

 Kater, with at present no prospect of getting out 

 for some time. The spirits of all on board are in 

 consequence rather depressed. Snow has been 

 falling heavily all day. During the afternoon the 

 wind gradually went down, and we have now a 

 light northerly breeze, and are seeking a passage 

 out through the ice to the eastward. 



Sunday, August 2Wl. — Retracing our steps to 

 the northward. At noon we were as far south as 

 Cape Bisson, but from the masthead nothing ap- 

 peared but an impenetrable sea of ice, a second 

 Melville Bay, through which there was no chance 

 of forcing a passage. The helm was accordingly 



