ndred yards through it before they stopped.
Keeping all our canvass spread, we then tried to break the thin edges
about the numerous holes, by dropping weights over the bows, as well as
by various other equally ineffectual expedients; but the ice was "tough"
enough to resist every effort of this kind, though its watery state was
such as to increase, if possible, our annoyance at being stopped by it.
The passage to the northward of the island was not even so clear as this
by above two miles of ice, so that in every respect our present route
was to be preferred to the other; and thus, after a vexatious delay of
six weeks at the eastern entrance of the strait, and at a time when we
had every reason to hope that nature, though hitherto tardy in her
annual disruption of the ice, had at length made an effort to complete
it, did we find our progress once more opposed by a barrier of the same
continuous, impenetrable, and hopeless nature as at first!

As soon as the anchors were dropped, my attention was once more turned
to the main object of the expedition, from which it had for a moment
been diverted by the necessity of exerting every effort for the
immediate safety of the ships. This being now provided for, I had
leisure to consider in what manner, hampered as the ships were by the
present state of the ice, our means and exertions might, during this
unavoidable detention, be employed to the greatest advantage, or, at
least, with the best prospect of ultimate utility.

Whatever doubts might at a distance have been entertained respecting the
identity, or the contrary, of the place visited by Captain Lyon with
that subsequently discovered by myself, there could be none on a nearer
view; as, independently of the observed latitude, Captain Lyon could
not, on approaching the narrows, recognise a single feature of the land;
our present channel being evidently a much wider and more extensive one
than that pointed out by Toolemak, on the journey. It became, therefore,
a matter of interest, now that this point was settled and our progress
again stopped by an insuperable obstacle, to ascertain the extent and
communication of the southern inlet; and, should it prove a second
strait, to watch the breaking up of the ice about its eastern entrance,
that no favourable opportunity might be missed of pushing through it to
the westward. I therefore determined to despatch three separate parties,
to satisfy all doubts in that quarter, as well as