Sept. 1857. DKIFTING IN THE PACK. 47 



improved condition to better feeding upon this 

 bank. The dredge brought up some few shell- 

 fish, starfish, stones, and much soft mud. 



dth. — On this day in 1824 Sir Edward Parry 

 got out of the middle ice, and succeeded in 

 reaching Port Bo wen. To continue hoping for 

 release in time to reach Bellot Strait would be 

 absurd ; yet to employ the men we continue our 

 preparation of tents, sledges, and gear for tra- 

 velling. Two days ago the ice became more 

 slack than usual, and a long lane opened; its 

 western termination could not be seen from aloft. 

 Every effort was made to get into this water, 

 and by the aid of steam and blasting-powder we 

 advanced 100 yards out of the intervening 170 

 yards of ice, when the floes began to close to- 

 gether, a S.E. wind having sprung up. Had 

 we succeeded in reaching the water, I think we 

 should have extricated ourselves completely, and 

 perhaps ere this have reached Barrow Strait, but 

 S.E. and S.W. gales succeeded, and it now 

 blows a S.S.E. gale with sleet. 



10th. — Young went to the large icebergs to- 

 day ; the nearest of them is 250 feet high, and in 

 83 fathoms water; it is therefore probably 

 aground, except at spring-tide ; the floe ice was 

 drifting past it to the westward, and was crush- 

 ing up against its sides to a height of 50 feet. 



