636 
LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
contrary, the men, by their bold and determined manner, ex¬ 
erted their controlling power over him ; and, with considerable 
reluctance, he drew from his provision bag some pork and 
bread, which were distributed amongst the insubordinates ; but 
he would not allow them either fresh meat, lime juice or cocoa. 
During, however, almost the whole of the night, the men, in 
Capt. Ross’ tent, were eating bread and sugar in their blankets, 
w ith their head covered over, so that “ the d—d b—e’’ should 
not hear their mouths a wagging.” 
In a very short time every thing assumed a regular course of 
action. The men were allowed three meals a day, indepen¬ 
dently of cocoa and lime juice: in fact, not a complaint was 
heard from any of them, on account of a shortness of provisions. 
The first employment of the crew was, in getting in order the 
sails, spars and cordage, which were on the beach; the boats 
were hauled up, for the carpenter to repair; Mr.Thom and some 
of the crew were employed in separating the preserved meats 
from the soups and vegetables; and Capt. Ross, with some 
others of the crew, were laying some of the heaviest of the 
spars, for the purpose of constructing a temporary house; the 
topsails and courses being used as the covering. In about eight 
or ten days, a house was built 30 feet long, and 16 feet broad. 
The position of the house was, as near as it could be, N.N.E. 
and 8.S.W. the door fronting to the eastward. The interior 
was divided, leaving a place for the officers, which consisted 
of a bed-place for each officer, and a mess-berth: and as soon as 
the house was finished, it was regularly taken possession of by 
the respective crews. It must be remarked, that each crew had 
to fit out their own boat; by which it became a trial of emu¬ 
lation amongst them, as to which boat should be first got ready 
for sea. 
It was on the 23d of July, that the ice made a move on Fury 
Beach, and by the 27th, a fair prospect presented itself, of 
getting down the inlet, having clear water as tar as the eye 
could reach • this opportunity, however, could not be embraced, 
on account of the boats not being finished ; or, according to the 
version of one of our authorities, Capt. Ross had determined, 
