516 



GREENLAND OR POLAR ICE. 



, narrow channel, in which we had to ply a consi- 

 derable distance against the wind. In performing 

 this, the wind, which had hitherto blown a brisk 

 breeze from the north, was increased to a strong 

 gale: the ship was placed in such a critical si- 

 tuation, that we could not for above an hour ac- 

 complish anj reduction of the sails, and she was 

 thus alarmingly oppressed : while I was personal- 

 ly engaged performing the duty of a pilot froni 

 the top-mast head, the agitation and bending of 

 the mast was so uncommon, that I was seriously 

 alarmed for its stability. At length we were 

 enabled to reef our sails, and for a while proceed- 

 ed with less danger. We continued to manoeuvre 

 among the ice, according as its separation was 

 most considerable. Our direction was now east, 

 then north for several hours, then easterly 10 or 

 J6 miles when, after eighteen hours of the most 

 diff^fuit, and occasionally hazardous sailing, in 

 which the ship received some hard blows from the 

 ice ; after pursuing a devious course nearly ninety 

 miles, and accomplishing a distance on a direct 

 north-east course of about forty miles ; we found 

 ourselves at the very margin of the sea, separated 

 only by a narrow sea stream The waves were 



♦ Drift ice exposed to the swells of the sea^ is generally com- 

 pacte.d into the form of an extensive stream of ice, which, owing 

 to its situation, acquires the name of a sea stream of ice. 



