The North-West Passage; Capt

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1853 edition. Excerpt: ...it by warping, and at 3 a.m. succeeded, working along the eastern shore to ascertain what probability existed of being able to round the pack, and thus get into Barrow's Strait, from which we were not distant more than 25 miles. At 9 a.m. all hopes disappeared, as a clear view from the crow's-nest discovered the ice to be closely packed, resting upon Point Lady Rose, extending in one unbroken line to the opposite side of the strait. This determined me to give up all idea of prosecuting our search in this direction. Having been foiled in attempting this passage the latter end of one season and at the commencement of another, I considered it not practicable, except under the favourable circumstance of a continuance of south-westerly winds, which would drive the ice into Barrow's Strait; but I imagine there would be little difficulty in coming from the north-east, from which quarter we found the winds prevail. Our greatest advance in that direction was lat. 73 13' 43" N., long. 115 32' 30" W. Accordingly, at 9.30 a.m. we bore up with the intention of running to the southward of Nelson's Head, and continuing our search along the western side of Baring's Island, with the hope of reaching the entrance of Barrow's Strait by that route; as, from the report of Lieutenant Cresswell, I felt convinced that by Banks's Land there was a passage from the Polar Sea. At 4 p.m. passed the Princess Royal Islands with a fine breeze; not a particle of ice to be seen in any direction, which only a month previously had presented enormous floes, and heavy grounded masses lying against their base and upon the shoal connecting them, which we considered had been there for years, and likely to remain for many more; even the huge pieces which had been thrown upon the...