. Narrative of discovery and adventure in the polar seas and regions [microform] : with illustrations of their climate, geology, and natural history ; and an account of the whale-fishery. Natural history; Sciences naturelles. RliCENT NORTH-WEST VOYAGES. 269 was still heavily encumbered by numerous small frag- ments, that were tossing about in every direction, and pressed upon the ships so hard that the men wished for a contr'iry w^ind ; which, coming from the south, would open and disperse the masses collected and driven against them by the north wind. In this anxious and precarious state they
. Narrative of discovery and adventure in the polar seas and regions [microform] : with illustrations of their climate, geology, and natural history ; and an account of the whale-fishery. Natural history; Sciences naturelles. RliCENT NORTH-WEST VOYAGES. 269 was still heavily encumbered by numerous small frag- ments, that were tossing about in every direction, and pressed upon the ships so hard that the men wished for a contr'iry w^ind ; which, coming from the south, would open and disperse the masses collected and driven against them by the north wind. In this anxious and precarious state they worked slowly on till the 1st August, when they reached the latitude of 72° 42', longitude 91° 60'. Here the Fury received a most severe shock by a large floe, which forced her against the grounded ice of the shore ; and tidings soon came to the Hecla that she had been very sharpl}' nipped, and was admitting water copiously. The commander trusted that this would prove as harmless as the many shocks which this vessel had already endured ; that the water made its entry by means of the twisted position into which she had been thrown; and that, wh»^n she was relieved from pressure, her leaks would close. But the next accounts were, that she could not be kept clear of water except by the action of four pumps, at which the whole crew, officers and men, were obliged to work. It became evident, that the evils under which she laboured could only be discovered and remedied by the operation of heaving dowriy by which her position being reversed, the parts now under water would be exposed to view. This expedient required a harbour, and there wtis none at hand; however, something was formed which resembled one, by connecting with anchors and bower-cables the grounded ice to the shore. Four days were then spent in unlading the Fury of those ample stores with which she had been provided. The opera- tion was interruj)ted, too, by u violent storm of snow ; while the external ice being drive
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, books, booksubjectnaturalhistory
