OF THE POLAR SEA. 207 



ice lay so close that the crews disembarked 

 on it, and effected a passage by bearing 

 against the pieces with their poles ; but in 

 conducting the canoes through the narrow 

 channels thus formed, the greatest care was 

 requisite, to prevent the sharp projecting 

 points from breaking the bark. They for- 

 tunately received no material injury, though 

 they were split in two places. 



At the distance of three miles, we came 

 to the entrance of a deep bay, whose bottom 

 was filled by a body of ice so compact as 

 to preclude the idea of a passage through 

 it ; whilst at the same time the traverse 

 across its mouth was attended with much 

 danger, from the approach of a large field 

 of ice, which was driving down before the 

 wind. The dread of further detention, 

 however, prevented us from hesitating ; and 

 we had the satisfaction of landing in an 

 hour and a half on the opposite shore, where 

 we halted to repair the canoes and to dine. 

 I have named this bay after my friend Mr. 

 Daniel Moore, of Lincoln's Inn ; to whose 

 zeal for science, the Expedition was indebted 



