LOSS OF A IIAItrOONF.U. 121 
ship’s stern. Our difficulties, however, were not 
yet over ; for, on attempting to take sail, the ship 
unavoidably struck the last piece of ice that was 
in the way, and launched fast aground on a 
“ tongue” or shelf that projected from beneath 
it, at the depth of twelve or fifteen feet. Here 
we remained for two or three hours occupied in 
fruitless exertions for our extrication. On the 
arrival of some of the boats to our assistance, 
other schemes were resorted to; but these were 
not effectual, until an accidental fracture of the 
ice occurred, and liberated us. 
As soon as these annoying duties enabled me 
to direct my attention to the boats, I found that 
two of them were missing. I looked in vain for 
them from the mast-head, sweeping the sea and 
ice all round with the glass, and dwelling on 
every different field of view that it embraced in 
the circuit, until I was almost blinded by the 
closeness of the observation, and the intensity of 
the light. The arduous duties of my profession 
had occupied me, at the mast-head, fifteen or 
sixteen hours almost incessantly. The sky being 
clear, the weather moderate or calm, and the sun 
extremely brilliant, the light (reflected and direct) 
became excessive : it was too much for the sight,. 
and produced such a degree of inflammation in 
my eyes, and acute headache, that I was under 
