478 



SECOND VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 



1823. t ma ke fast to the same floe-piece were now separated a mile or two and soon 



August. , . A A . 



v-*-r"w> again beset. Without escaping for a moment from our confined situation, 

 Sat. 30. and almost without perceiving any motion of the masses of ice among them- 

 selves, we had at noon on the 30th drifted down within a mile of a small 

 island, lying near the north-east point of Winter Island, and which I now 

 Sun. 31. named after Mr. Crawford. On the 31st the tide took us through between 

 these, the breadth of the passage being three-quarters of a mile, in no less 

 than sixteen fathoms water. We then passed within a dangerous reef of 

 rocks lying a full mile from the shore, and having numerous heavy masses of 

 grounded ice upon it. After clearing this in a good depth of water we were, 

 by the evening, carried along shore within a mile of Cape Fisher. Being 

 desirous of seeing whether the Esquimaux had meddled with the tombs of our 

 departed shipmates, I despatched a party on shore over the loose ice, and 

 was glad to find on their return, which was not accomplished without diffi- 

 culty, that both were in good order. Among the specimens of plants which 

 Mr. Ross brought on board were some radishes, onions, and mustard and 

 cress, found at our gardens. The onions had a very pungent smell and 

 taste, and the whole were in that healthy state which, however dwarfish 

 their growth, would have rendered them very acceptable if more abundant. 

 The Esquimaux had certainly visited the island since our departure, as several 

 tin canisters, left for them on a particular spot, had been removed. 



Thus had we, in a most singular manner, once more arrived at our old 

 winter-quarters, with scarcely a single successful exertion on our parts 

 towards effecting that object. The distance from Ooglit to our present 

 station was about one hundred and sixty miles along the coast. Of this we 

 had never sailed above forty, the rest of the distance having been accom- 

 plished while we -were immoveably beset by mere drifting. The interval 

 thus employed having been barely eight days, gives an average drift to the 

 southward of above fifteen miles per day. 



The phenomena of the tides had now, been precisely similar to those before 

 observed on this coast, and may be stated in few words. The flood-tide 

 comes from the northward, but is aided also by a current from the same 

 quarter, rendering its stream both stronger and of longer duration than that 

 of the ebb. The latter is indeed scarcely perceptible with a northerly 

 breeze, and even with the wind from the southward does not usually affect 

 a ship's drift for more than three hours each tide. This being the case, 

 I do not know how a ship could effect a passage along this coast to the 



