28 
VOYAGE TO GREENLAND. 
favourable ice. Having made his decision, he di- 
rected the ship to be run within twice or thrice its 
length of the spot ; then promptly ordered the yards 
a-back, that it might lose all velocity on touch- 
ing the ice, to break the concussion : again, at 
the instant of contact, the sails were all filled, 
and the frozen barrier, no sooner summoned, than 
its icy gates were forced by the Baffin’s prowess. 
In this manner we entered the ice; and human 
imagination, to those who had not before witnessed 
such a scene, cannot conceive any so grand. We 
now passed into what is professionally called “ open 
sailing zce^.” The colour of the water being very 
favourable for fishing, a good look out was kept, 
and all were in readiness. We had not proceeded 
far, before the pieces of ice, which were floating, 
increased in number and in size ; and being of con- 
siderable extent and dangerous to pass, every person 
was at his post, standing by the braces to obey in- 
stant command. The wind was blowing strong, the 
water smooth, and the ship gracefully “ danced the 
hay” in quick time, among numerous dangers, for 
the distance of thirty or forty miles, when an im- 
penetrable barrier compelled us to put the ship about, 
and explore other unsearched stations for whales. 
On passing several large pieces of ice, having aper- 
tures, through which light was admitted, a fine effect 
was produced by the beautiful blue colour, tinted 
* That is, where the pieces are so separate, as to admit a ship 
sailing conveniently among them. 
