678 
LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
a number of bays, apparently clear from the swell. Here they 
remained during the whole of the night, and the next morning 
a breeze sprung up from the eastward, with thick, hazy weather. 
The boats were got out from amongst the bays, and proceeded 
in search of a better place, when they fortunately arrived at 
a river, which was deep enough for the boats to float in. The 
tents were pitched, and the wind being foul, with thick wea¬ 
ther, they took the opportunity of overhauling their boats, and 
making those repairs, which were necessary. They remained 
here for about five days, congratulating themselves on the safe 
harbour, in which they now were, for had they not got the 
boats into the river, there is very little doubt but they would 
have been smashed to pieces, as the sea threw up the ice-berg's as 
large as a good-sized house, and with a violence, which scarcely 
a ship would have been able to withstand, much less the tiny 
fragile boats, in which they were now embarked. 
On Sunday the 26th, the weather becoming more moderate, 
and the swell having subsided, it was determined to proceed on 
the voyage, but, it being then low water, considerable difficulty 
was experienced in launching the boats, on account of the hum¬ 
mocks of ice, which were left by the tide on the beach. By 
dint of rowing and sailing, they succeeded in getting about 20 
miles on the other side of Navy Board Inlet, and they would 
have been able to proceed further, had not Capt. Ross’ boat 
proved so leaky, that they were obliged to put on shore, for the 
purpose of pitching the boat, and stopping the leaks. The shore 
presented a greater appearance of fertility, than was observable 
about Fury Beach, and the frequent tracks &C rein-deer, hares, 
and other animals, led them to believe that an ample supply of 
provisions could be found, should they be obliged to remain 
there for any considerable length of time. At midnight, it being 
low water, the boat was overhauled, but the leak could not be 
found. At day-break, all hands turned out to boil some cocoa, 
when the cook was sent with the telescope to take a survey of the 
ice, when he saw something like a ship, but could not properly 
make her out; he immediately called Commander Ross, who 
was more accustomed to the glass, and he distinctly mad© it 
