LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. RObS 
135 
of the ice being closely packed. The officers went on shore and 
erected a monument. The ice was now running at a rapid rate, 
and the dingy with three hands was despatched to report the 
appearance of the coast, but the ice closed suddenly upon them, 
and they were prevented from getting on board for nearly five 
hours. It was found to be very dangerous to be amongst the 
islands, as the tide was very rapid, although the persons sent in 
the dingy reported that there was clear water on the other side of 
them. It was therefore determined at all hazards, that the 
attempt should be made to reach the quarter where the clear 
water had been seen, but within a few hours the ship had some 
very narrow escapes; they soon got beset in the ice, and in en¬ 
deavouring to effect a passage through the islands, every rope 
was carried away, which was made fast. It was not until the 
12th that they got under weigh, and ran through amongst the 
islands, the tide during the whole of the time running very ra¬ 
pidly ; the situation of the ship was now not only awkward but 
exceedingly dangerous, it was the third time that she had run 
among very heavy ice, receiving frequently those tremendous 
thumps, which made her timbers tremble from the bow to the 
stern. At 4 a.m. they made fast to a berg, which was aground, 
but both the place and the berg were very unsafe. They cast off 
and warped to another island, to which they made fast; clear 
water was now in sight, and they made another attempt to get 
hold of the main land, the ship receiving some very heavy nips 
and thumps, and taking out lines; besides having the w hale 
boat amongst the ice clearing the lines, but about noon they 
succeeded in getting into clear water. The boat and lines were 
got on board, but the wind being foul, they were obliged to beat 
until 7 P.M., and then made fast to the ground ice, seventy yards 
from the shore. At mid-day on the 13th, the bergs floated, 
but by having a line on shore, the ship, bergs, &c., were hauled 
in shore, and grounded the ice. Capt. Ross here went on shore 
and ascended the hills ; during his stay there he took a sketch 
of the land, but there was little of interest in it, as it presented 
nothing but a scene of the wildest desolation, with not a living 
object except the isolated Victory to enliven it. On this day 
