10 
VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 
1819. land Strait ; the soundings were one hundred and thirty-five fathoms ; the 
temperature of the sea at that depth 30° ; that of the surface being the same ; 
Wed. 30. an( j 0 f a j r 34 °. On the 30th, the ice began to slacken a little more about 
the ships ; and, after two hours’ heaving with a hawser on each bow brought 
to the capstan and windlass, we succeeded in moving the Hecla about her own 
length to the eastward, where alone any clear sea was visible. The ice con- 
tinuing to open still more in the course of the day, we were at length 
enabled to get both ships into open water, after eight hours’ incessant labour. 
Our first attempt to approach the western coast having thus failed, I 
consulted the Greenland Masters, as to what were the most likely means 
to be adopted for effecting this object. Mr. Allison thought it would 
be advisable to run a degree or two back again to the southward ; while 
Mr. Fife was of opinion, that it might be attempted, with better chance 
of success, about the latitude of Mount Raleigh, which forms one side of the 
narrowest part of Davis’ Strait. I determined on the latter, as being more 
conformable to the tenor of my instructions ; and a course was accordingly 
shaped close along the edge of the ice, which led us considerably to the 
eastward of north, in order to take advantage of any opening which might 
occur. On getting into clear water, we found that the rudders were much 
rubbed by the blows they had received while beset in the ice. 
July, On the 1st and 2d of July, we continued to keep close to the edge of the 
1 st & 2 d. ice without perceiving any opening in it. Its outer margin consisted of heavy 
detached masses, much washed by the sea, and formed what is technically 
called “ a pack,” this name being given to ice when so closely connected as 
not to admit the passage of a ship between the masses. Within the margin 
of the pack, it appeared to consist of heavy and extensive floes, having a 
bright ice-blink over them ; but no clear water could be discovered to the 
westward. The birds, which had hitherto been seen since our first approach 
to the ice, were fulmar petrels, little auks, looms, ( Uria BrunnichiiJ and a 
few glaucous gulls, ( Larus Glaucus.J 
Sat. 3. On the morning of the 3d the wind blew strong from the eastward, with a 
short breaking sea and thick rainy weather, which made our situation for 
some hours rather an unpleasant one, the ice being close under our lee. 
Fortunately, however, we weathered it by stretching back a few miles to the 
southward. In the afternoon the wind moderated, and we tacked again to 
the northward, crossing the Arctic circle at four P.M., in the longitude of 
57° 27' W. We passed at least fifty icebergs in the course of the day, many 
