368 



SECOND VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 



October tnroll & n tne lce more than once, in consequence of its irregular and deceit- 

 ful surface. 



Frid.ll, On the 11th, the wind backed a little to the north-east, and the ice re- 

 mained quiet ; but the small snow that almost constantly fell keeping the 

 thermometer nearly up to the freezing point, we felt assured that a westerly 

 breeze would again set it in motion, and subject us to the risk of losing 

 more anchors, or of being driven out to winter at sea. The Esquimaux, 

 finding their sledges might be turned to some account in our service, 

 brought six or seven of them down to us on the 12th, when each ship em- 

 ployed two in procuring water. Being unwilling also to subject our own 

 people to the risk of falling in, to which they were much more liable than 

 the natives, we did not hesitate to intrust the latter with the sole charge 

 of our casks and tools for breaking the ice in the ponds. They performed 

 all that we desired with great faithfulness and punctuality, bringing several 

 turns of water in the course of the day, and receiving some small though 

 useful reward for their pains. 



Sun. 13. The wind remaining easterly during the greater part of the 13th, the ice 

 gave us no disturbance ; till a very moderate breeze springing up at nine 

 P.M. from the opposite quarter at once set the whole in motion near the 

 ships, and we soon began to drive with it to the eastward. The Hecla's an- 

 chor was immediately and of necessity let go ; in less than an hour after- 

 wards however the wind very opportunely backed to the southward, and no 

 further alteration took place than the opening of a few small " holes" of 

 water. This motion of the ice was so far favourable to us that, on the fol- 



Mon. 14. lowing day, we had an opportunity of purchasing our anchor on board the 

 Fury, though not without heaving it by main force from under a floe. This 

 labour however was amply repaid by our finding it perfectly uninjured, 

 though polished quite bright on the lower side by dragging along the ground. 

 It is perhaps proper for me here to notice, that the Fury had on this occasion 

 a hempen cable bent, and the Hecla an iron one, and that while the anchor of 

 the former was dragged a full mile and a half without any injury, that of the 

 Hecla was broken in driving about one-tenth of the same distance. I may 

 add moreover, that our former losses in anchors had also occurred with iron 

 cables, which were preferred for general use on this service, to obviate the 

 .danger of their being damaged either upon foul ground or by the chafing of 

 ice. From the circumstances just, noticed, however, it is by no means my 



