LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
133 
N. W., with heavy rain, and the ice still closely Backed. At 
4 p.m. some clear water being 1 seen in the direction to where it 
was intended to steer, they cast off and made a trial, but there 
being a large floe of about 10 miles in length, they were entirely 
blocked up, 
On the 30th and 31st they still remained beset, but on the 
night of the 1st September the floe wholly disappeared, and by 
the aid of a northerly wind, they warped the ship to the point 
and then made sail, steering a south westerly course, as the 
water appeared to run more clear of ice in that direction. The 
density of the fog was however greatly against them, but they 
continued to run until 10 a.m., when the fog cleared away, and 
they found themselves completely surrounded with ice and clos¬ 
ing fast upon them. The ship was now completely beset, the 
sails were furled, and the rudder unshipped. Soundings were 
obtained in 52 fathoms, the ship driving by the lead south¬ 
west. At 8 p.m., a pressure came on which gave the launch a 
severe nip; the wind N. N. W., blowing hard. Capt, Ross shot 
an ivory gull. This bird is rather larger than the kittiwake 
gull, the bill of a deep lead colour, the edges and tips yellowish, 
two inches long from the angles of the mouth ; the orbits of the 
eyes are red, the irides brown, legs and feet black; the tarsus 
one inch and three quarters, the entire plumage of a snowy 
whiteness, the length of the bird is nineteen inches, the 
breadth forty-one inches. 
On the 2nd and 3rd they were still beset, sounded and found 
120, 130, and 70 fathoms with stones and gravel, the latter con¬ 
sisting of fragments of gneiss, granite and quartz rock. 
On the 4th the w 7 ind coming round to the south-east, great 
hope was entertained that the ice would open, nor were they 
■ disappointed in their expectations, for on the following day at 
10 p.m., it opened, and the ship got under weigh, endeavouring 
to get in with the land, for since they were beset, it was dis¬ 
covered that they had driven with the ice a long way to the 
northward. After receiving some heavy thumps from the ice, 
they succeeded in getting in with the land, and made fast to a 
berg. This was found to be nearly about the same place as 
where Capt. Ross shot the hare on the 27th August. 
