464 THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. [chap. 
loose, angular blocks of ice. A vessel ancbored there would 
have been buried under pieces of ice, pressed aground, and 
crushed very early in the winter. 
When the Vega was beset, the sea near the coast, as has been 
already stated, was covered with newly formed ice, too thin to 
carry a foot passenger, but thick enough to prevent the passage 
of a boat. In the offing lay, as far as the eye could see, closely 
TOROSS. 
From the neighbourhood of the Vega's winter quarters. 
packed drift-ice, which was bound together so firmly by the 
newly formed ice, that it was vain to endeavour to force a 
passage. Already, by the 2nd October, it was possible, by 
observing the necessary precautions, to walk upon the newly 
formed ice nearest the vessel, and on the 3rd October, the 
Chukches came on board on foot. On the 10th there were 
