472 



SECOND VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 



little with the rest at first, did not come out of the bay. In the course of the 

 i afternoon, finding her still stationary, I determined to occupy the time in 

 stretching over to the northward, for the purpose of examining the state 

 of the fixed ice at the eastern mouth of the strait ; and arriving at its 

 margin by ten P.M. found it attached to both shores from the north- 

 eastern part of Neerlo-naktoo across to Murray Maxwell Inlet. It was the 

 general opinion that this ice was in a more solid state than at the same 

 time and place the preceding year, but its situation did not I believe differ 

 half a mile from what it had then been. As the sun went down nearly in the 

 direction of the Strait, we obtained from the mast-head a distinct and exten- 

 sive view in that quarter, and it is impossible to conceive a more hopeless 

 prospect than this now presented. One vast expanse of level solid ice occu- 

 pied the whole extent of sea visible to the westward, and the eye wearied 

 itself in vain to discover a single break upon its surface. 



Having finished this examination, which -at once destroyed every hope 

 I had never ceased to indulge of a passage through the Strait, we returned 

 towards Igloolik to rejoin the Hecla. It was not, however, till the morn- 

 ing of the 9th that we observed her to be moving out of the bay ; when 

 at length (for the first time perhaps that such an event ever occurred,) 

 she drove to sea in the middle of the floe. Thus at the mercy of the ice, 

 she was carried over the shoals off the south-east point off Igloolik in six and 

 a half fathoms, but was then fortunately drifted into deeper water. The 

 swell on the outside was all that was wanting to break up her icy prison, 

 which separating at seven A.M. finally released her from confinement. 



Having soon afterwards received Captain Lyon's answer to my communi- 

 cation, it was necessary for me to come to a final determination on the sub- 

 ject therein alluded to. I shall first however insert Captain Lyon's reply, 

 both because it is proper that his opinion should be recorded, and because it 

 is impossible for me either more clearly or more briefly to communicate the 

 substance of my own. 



" As I consider the health of your crew as of most importance in every 

 point of view, I shall in the first place state that, independently of the weighty 

 opinions of your medical officers, it has for some time been my opinion that 

 the Fury's passing a third winter in this country would be extremely hazard- 

 ous. I am induced thus to express myself from the great change I have 

 observed in the constitution of the officers and men of the Hecla, and by the 

 appearance of some very severe cases of scurvy since the summer has com- 



