NO. lO DRAWINGS BY JOHN WEBBER BUSHNELL 



NEAR ICY CAPE. AUGUST, 1778 



By the middle of August. 1778. the two ships were in the far 

 northern waters, be}ond Bering Strait in the Arctic. At noon on the 

 i8th they were in latitude 70° 44'. To quote from the narrative: 

 " We were, at this time, close to the edge of the ice, which was as 

 compact as a wall ; and seemed to be ten or twelve feet high at least. 

 But, farther North, it appeared much higher. Its surface was ex- 

 tremely rugged ; and, here and there, we saw pools of water. 



" We now stood to the Southward ; and. after running six leagues, 

 shoaled the water to seven fathoms ; but it soon deepened to nine 

 fathoms. At this time, the weather, which had been hazy, clearing up 

 a little, we saw land extending from the South to South East by 

 East, about three or four miles distant. The Eastern extreme forms a 

 point, which was much incumbered with ice ; for which reason it ob- 

 tained the name Icy Cope. Its latitude is 70° 29', and its longitude 

 iq8° 20'. The other extreme of the land was lost in the horizon; so 

 that there can be no doubt of its being a continuation of the American 

 continent. The Discovery being about a mile astern, and to leeward, 

 found less water than we did ; and tacking on that account, I was 

 obliged to tack also, to prevent separation. 



" Our situation was now more and more critical. We were in shoal 

 water, upon a lee shore ; and the main body of the ice to the windward, 

 driving down upon us. It was evident, that, if we remained much 

 longer between it and the land, it would force us ashore ; unless it 

 should happen to take the ground before us." This was the scene 

 sketched by Webber, the Resolution leading with the Discovery 

 " about a mile astern." 



The following day. August 19. the ships were in the midst of much 

 drift ice, with great masses just beyond. " It was not so compact as 

 that which we had seen to the Northward ; but it was too close, and 

 in too large pieces, to attempt forcing the ships through it. On the 

 ice lay a prodigious number of sea-horses ; and, as we were in want 

 of fresh provisions, the boats from each ship were sent to get some." 

 A small group of " sea-horses " may be seen on the ice to the right 

 in the drawing. 



The ships were turning southward, to avoid the ice and to seek 

 other lands. On September 2, they passed Eastern Caj^e and con- 

 tinuing down the coast of Asia arrived in the Bay of St. Lawrence. 



