144 
LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
drove with the tide, until the hawser which was on shore brought 
the ship up, and the wind at the same time being off the land, no 
further danger was apprehended. At 11 a.m. the ice came in 
amongst the islands with such rapidity, by which it became 
so closely packed, that it was found requisite to alter the 
position of the ship : they had not however departed more 
than twenty minutes, when the ship was as closely imbedded in 
the ice as she was before. 
This being the birthday of Capt. Ross’ son, he and his officers 
went on shore after dinner, and built a monument on the top of 
the island, and in the middle put a pole and copper, with the 
names of himself, his officers, and ship engraved on it. Capt. 
Ross named the island Andrew Ross’ Island, in remembrance of 
the natal day of his son. On their return the ice was still in the 
same position, with one very narrow lane of water, and all outside 
closely packed. Temperature of the air 25°, of the sea 29°. 
Not the slightest appearance presented itself on the following 
day, of effecting any alteration in the position of the ship; during 
the night a very heavy fall of snow had taken place, but the 
weather was quite mild considering the season of the year. It 
was remarked that where there was still water, there was scarcely 
any ice; by which however it must be understood, that the young 
ice of the present year is meant. The weather on this day was 
not foggy near the ship, but it was so hazy all round the horizon 
as to prevent them seeing the land, or the situation of the ice, 
which now appeared to surround them in every direction. The 
chief employment of the crew during the time that they were 
beset in the ice, was making mats ; an occupation as much in 
unison with the professional avocations of the sailor, as if thev 
had heen placed cross legged upon a tailors board, to sew the 
seams of a flushing jacket. But it was indubitably a stroke of 
good policy on the part of Capt. Ross, to cut out some employ¬ 
ment for his men, in order to save them from the ennui attendant 
on a life of inactivity and idleness, which was the inevitable 
result of their inclosure in the ice, and the consequent cessation 
of the customary duties of the ship. 
The wind at this time appeared to be settled to no particular 
