252 
LANCASTER SOUND. 
" December 8, Sunday, 8 P.M. This has thus far been 
a day of rest. Our vessel, lifted up upon the heavy 
ice, has borne without injury a few fresh pressures. 
The wind has been still from the eastward, and we 
have drifted about six miles to the westward again. 
This wind was almost a gale ; yet its influence upon 
the eastern drift is barely able to produce this limited 
westing. I now regard it as past a doubt, that should 
we survive the collisions of the journey, we must float 
into Baffin's Bay. 
"A small auroral light was seen to the northwest 
at 9 A.M., the second within two days. Its axis was 
16° W. of the magnetic meridian. The mean tem- 
perature of the day has been —12° 70^ Wind more 
gentle from the eastward. 
"Mr. Griffin, who is now the executive officer of our 
consolidated squadron, has undertaken a systematic 
drill of the crew. He has mustered them for an ice- 
march, with knapsacks fitted to their backs, and sledge 
equipments, just such as will be required when the 
worst comes. Every thing is rigorously inspected ; 
the provisions and stores of all sorts are packed snug, 
and have their places marked ; and the men are in- 
structed as to their course in the moment of emerg- 
ency. 
" Here is a sketch of the present position of our ves- 
sel. It looks extravagant, but it is in truth the very op- 
