454 
A VOYAGE TO 
177s- were feen clearly at intervals, and we got fome flying ob- 
1. — f- ft ‘ i fervations for the longitude ; which, reduced to noon, when 
the latitude was 70° 33', gave 197 0 41b The time-keeper, 
for the fame time, gave 198°; and the variation was 
35° T Eaft. We had, afterward, reafon to believe, that 
the obferved longitude was within a very few miles of the 
truth. 
Some time before noon, we perceived a brightnefs in 
the Northern horizon, like that reflected from ice, com¬ 
monly called the blink. It was little noticed, from a fup- 
pofition that it was improbable we fliould meet with ice fo 
foon. And yet, the fliarpnefs of the air, and gloominefs of 
the weather, for two or three days paft, feemed to indicate, 
fome hidden change. About an hour after, the light of a 
large field of ice, left us no longer in doubt about the caufe 
of the brightnefs of the horizon. At half paft two, we 
tacked, clofe to the edge of the ice, in twenty-two fathoms 
water, being then in the latitude of 70° 4T; not being able 
to ftand on any farther. For the ice was quite impenetra¬ 
ble, and extended from Weft by South, to Eaft by North, as 
far as the eye could reach. Here were abundance of fea- 
horfes ; fome in the water ; but far more upon the ice. I 
had thoughts of hoifting out the boats to kill fome; but 
the wind frefhening, I gave up the defign; and conti¬ 
nued to ply to the Southward, or rather to the Weftward; 
for the wind came from that quarter. 
Tuefday is. We gained nothing; for, on the 18th at noon, our lati¬ 
tude was 70° 44"; and we were near five leagues farther 
to the Eaftward. We were, at this time, clofe to the 
edge of the ice, which was as compacft as a wall; and 
feemed to be ten or twelve feet high at leaft. But, farther 
North, it appeared much higher. Its furface was extremely 
3 - rugged; 
