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Chap. VIII.]
CLOSE THE BARRIER.
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1841
affording us the only opportunity we had of seeing its upper surface from our mast-heads: it appeared to be quite smooth, and conveyed to the mind the idea of an immense plain of frosted silver. Gigantic icicles depended from every projecting point of its perpendicular cliffs, proving that it sometimes thaws, which otherwise we could not have believed; for at a season of the year equivalent to August in England we had the thermometer at 12°, and at noon not rising above 14°; this severity of temperature is remarkable also when compared with our former experience in the northern seas, where from every iceberg you meet with, streams of water are constantly pouring off during the summer.
Young ice formed so quickly in this sheltered position, and the whole space between the barrier and the main pack which was driving down upon us being occupied by pancake ice, we found ourselves in a situation of much difficulty, the ice becoming so thick from being pressed fold over fold, as to render it for some hours a question of doubt whether we should be able to force our way through it to the open water which we could not at this time see from the mast-head; but fortunately for us the breeze maintained sufficient strength to enable us, with the assistance of great exertions of the crews in breaking up the ice before the ships, to regain a clearer space; and then, when we required its aid no longer, the wind came directly against us from the westward, so that had we lingered longer near the barrier, or had the
