316 
Mr Jameson’s Narrative of a 
grees to the southward. The species of phsenogamous plants 
do not exceed twelve in number, and no land animal, properly 
so called, could be seen ; not even an insect, although the sun 
shone with great effect. Perhaps, however, a more leisurely in- 
vestigation may discover more species which, in the very curso- 
ry view I enjoyed, might remain unobserved. I missed many 
fine plants, which, in my former voyage, I gathered on Hare 
Island, and the opposite continent. 
A breeze having sprung up, we were summoned on board be- 
fore we could make a circuit of the island, which, however, we 
suppose to be about three miles in circumference. Although 
the coast is low, yet the water deepens so suddenly, that at the 
distance of two or three yards from the shore no bottom could 
be seen. 
Having got on board, we made sail to the northward in com- 
pany with fifteen ships. Ahead of us were two or three very large 
floes, which I imagined would have effectually barred all far- 
ther passage into the more northern regions. Resolved, how- 
ever, to surmount every obstacle, rather than relinquish our de- 
sign, we entered a stream or 64 lane ” of water, about fifty yards 
in breadth, formed by the recession of two large floes, the edges 
of which ran parallel to a considerable distance. To accelerate 
our progress, all our people were ordered to go upon the ice, 
and pull the ship forward by the tow-rope. In the course of 
a few hours we had gained about five miles, when we were ob- 
liged to leave off towing, the two floes having approximated so 
closely, that it was thought unsafe to venture farther. It was 
here (Lat. 74° 30'), on the 29th instant, that we witnessed the 
destruction of a Hull ship, named the Brothers, while attempt- 
ing to pass betwixt two floes, which were in the act of coming 
together. That ship had advanced ten or twelve yards only, 
when she was caught by the ice closing on each side of her. 
The united efforts of the crews of several other ships, to re- 
move her from her dangerous situation, proved quite unavail- 
ing The water rushed in, and continued to increase, notwith- 
standing that the pumps were incessantly at work. In the 
course of three hours, she was reduced to the state of a total 
wreck. 
