OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 



97 



towards the Fury, which we found close beset by thick and heavy ice, we 1^21. 

 succeeded after much difficulty in hauling the boat through it, and arrived 

 on board at 10 P.M. 



The next object to which my attention was directed was the connecting 

 of the coast last examined, with that of Gore Bay— an object that might 

 perhaps have been effected during my absence ; but I did not consider 

 it prudent, in the insecure situation in which I had been obliged to leave the 

 ships, to take more than one boat's crew from each, which number out of 

 our small complements of working men bore a large proportion to the whole 

 strength that might be required on any emergency. The absence of two 

 boats from either ship, indeed, scarcely left hands enough to purchase the 

 anchor, much less to handle them with the alacrity necessary among ice, and 

 in a confined and rocky navigation. It remained therefore to complete this 

 examination in the boats, as soon as the Fury could be extricated from the 

 ice by which she was at present beset. 



This ice consisted of heavy and large floe-pieces, which pressed with 

 considerable force upon the cable ; but the strain being steady, the ground 

 good, and little or no stream of tide running, the anchor did not come 

 home. It may here be of service to remark that, in smooth water and in 

 situations where there is no perceptible stream of tide, a ship's safety is not so 

 much endangered by the approach of a large body of loose ice as might be 

 supposed. The smaller pieces are pushed astern by poles, the larger masses, 

 not coming with any violence, rest across the cable or bows without doing 

 any damage, and the space between the ship and the land is generally soon 

 filled up with ice, so as to preclude the possibility of her being driven on 

 shore, even should the anchor afterwards come home. 



As soon as the tide would serve in the offing, on the morning of the 15th g at ] 5 

 we weighed, and by means of warping and towing, in which we were as- 

 sisted by Captain Lyon's boats, succeeded in joining the Heel a at her an- 

 chorage at three P.M. About the same time Lieutenant Hoppner arrived, 

 having re-examined that arm of the sea which 1 had at first explored ; being 

 the only one near, Captain Lyon had in pursuance of my directions instructed 

 him to trace it, not knowing that I had already done so. From Lieutenant 

 Hoppner's, report and observations however much useful information was de- 

 rived in laying down the coast. Among other things the extent and commu- 

 nication of the opening I had entered but could not pass on the 7th, had now 



o 



