VOYAGE TO GREENLAND. 
Ill 
panions, as well as by those on board the Baffin, that 
an infinitely greater accumulation of ice prevailed 
to the westward, than had been found the preced- 
ing season ; and some of the experienced seamen 
were of opinion, that there was at least five times 
as much as had ever been known. It is impossible 
for language to describe the interesting, though 
fearful sailing, which we had witnessed for the last 
three days, in attempting to get to the west, through 
the most intricate navigation imaginable, during the 
whole of which we were opposed by a gale from 
the north-east, and had the ship generally on its 
beam ends, from the pressure of sail indispensably 
necessary to avoid the obstructions that so often 
occurred. One ship in company had its rudder 
damaged, and the Baffin suffered in passing through 
a lead between two lofty pieces of ice, though only 
in having two boats injured : to hard blows we were 
now become familiarized, although some were of 
sufficient violence, as a sailor jocosely expressed it, 
“ to knock the ship’s brains out.” As we advanced 
to the westward, our difficulties became lessened, 
much more open water was found ; and the ice con- 
sisted of large floes and fields ; the former, only 
measurable by the aid of a glass, the latter beyond 
the possibility of being ascertained, and only pointed 
out by the yellow arched tint above the horizon, 
the reflected mirror of its extraordinary magnitude. 
It has been generally admitted by all whose avoca- 
tions have led them to these seas, that more gales 
prevailed this season than usual, particularly in the 
