138 
LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS 
the evening Capt. Ross and a party went on shore to ascer¬ 
tain the state of the ice, and found that the water was quite 
clear in the direction in which it w r as their intention to steer. 
It was however a tantalizing sight, for the ship appeared to be 
immoveably fixed, although the ice was clearing fast away. At 
this time the wind was blowing from W.S.W. when on a sud 
den it shifted to N.E. ; Capt. Ross declared that in the whole 
course of his life, he never met with so sudden change from one 
quarter, to the other immediately opposite to it. It was sup¬ 
posed to portend hard and severe weather, and in consequence 
all hands were turned out to moor the ship afresh, and to get her 
into a snugger birth. 
On the 17th the wind continued to blow most violently from the 
N.N. W., but fortunately for the ship she was in a good har¬ 
bour. A vast extent of clear water was seen in a westerly direct¬ 
ion, but the vessel being beset at the edge of the floe, rendered 
it impossible to force a passage ; the sea at this time was breaking 
very high over the vessel, and the ice was kept in an undulating 
motion, which had a most extraordinary and novel appearance. 
The ice appeared to be packed as closely as possible, far away 
to the N. E. by E., in the direction of the islands, the distance 
of which appeared to be about 8 miles. In consequence of the 
tempestuous state of the weather, another hawser was got out, 
and other precautions were taken to ensure the safety of the ship. 
The temperature of the air was this day 23°, that of the sea 28°, 
latitude 71° 49. 
On the morning of the 18th, one of the bergs got afloat in 
shore, which obliged them to unmoor, and to moor the ship 
afresh. After breakfast, Capt. Ross and his nephew went on 
shore, to take an observation of the state of the ice from a high 
hill, when their eyes were gratified with a vast expanse of clear 
water stretching away to a considerable distance, but a very 
heavy sea running outside. The ice that confined the ship was 
in continual motion, a circumstance which had never before been 
witnessed by any person on board, some 
50 to 100 feet thick. 
The circumstance of the Victory being so long beset, became 
part of the ice was from 
