370 



SECOND VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 



1822. j t happened that immediately beyond the Fury in that direction, there was 

 ^*-y^ ' a level undisturbed floe of some extent, which it would be comparatively 

 easy to saw and sink ; while the whole of the ice between the two ships was 

 of the impracticable nature I have endeavoured to describe above. As it was 

 indispensible for Mr. Fisher's observations and experiments that the Fury 

 should be near the shore, I determined on this account as well as another 

 that suggested itself about this time, and of which I shall speak in another 

 place, not to incur the risk of both ships wintering at a distance from the 

 land, by persevering too long in our attempts upon the Hecla, especially 

 as the frost was now hourly increasing the difficulty we should have in moving 

 the Fury into a convenient birth. The result of two whole days' wet and 

 Sun. 20. fatiguing labour on the 19th and 20th, being only to advance the Hecla about 

 two-thirds of her own length each day, I directed that object to be aban- 

 doned without further delay, and the canal to be commenced ahead of the 

 Fury. 



Mon. 21. On the 21st a large basin was cut in a level piece of ice for the reception 

 of a quantity of squeezed-up masses that lay between us and the regular floe, 

 and which it was much easier to float away into any space that would be 

 found for them, than to haul out of the water by piece-meal. This being 

 accomplished, the work went on more quickly ; but it was not till the after- 

 Wed. 30. noon of the 30th that the whole was completed, and the Fury placed in the 

 best birth for the winter that circumstances would permit. This was how- 

 ever by no means so far out towards Oongalooyat as was originally intended ; 

 but the ice had in this neighbourhood been thrown up into such high and 

 numerous hummocks, that to get the ship any further that way was entirely 

 beyond our means ; and we were therefore obliged to rest contented with the 

 facilities our present situation afforded for Mr. Fisher's observations during 

 the winter. An early release in the spring could here be scarcely expected, 

 nor indeed did the nature of the ice about us independently of situation 

 allow us to hope for it ; but both these unfavourable circumstances had been 

 brought about by a contingency which no human power or judgment could 

 have obviated, and at which therefore it would have been unreasonable as 

 well as useless to repine. We lay here in rather less than five fathoms', on a 

 muddy bottom at the distance of one cable's length from the eastern shore 

 of the bay. 



The whole length of the canal was four thousand three hundred and forty- 

 three feet ; the thickness of the ice in the level and regular parts being from 



