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"The gale blew without the least abatement throughout the Wednesday,
2nd. night, and until noon of the 2nd, when it terminated in a violent
gust, which overthrew the tents. The field of ice was broken
in the offing, and the pieces put in motion ; and in the evening
there appeared a large space of open water, but we could not
take advantage of these favorable circumstances, in consequence
of the ice still closely besetting the reef. Lieutenant Back
occupied himself in sketching the different views from the reef;
from one of which the annexed engraving has been selected, as
conveying an accurate delineation of our position on Icy Reef. We remarked large heaps of gravel, fifteen feet above the surface of the reef, on the largest iceberg, which must have been caused by the pressure of the ice; and from the top of this berg we had the satisfaction of discovering that a large herd of rein-deer were marching in line towards the opposite side of the channel. Our party was instantly on the alert, and the best hunters were sent in the Reliance in chase of them. The boat grounded about midway across, and the eager sportsmen jumped overboard and hastened to the shore ; but such was their want of skill, that only three fawns were killed, out of a herd of three or four hundred. The supply, however, was sufficient for our present use, and the circumstances of the chase afforded amusing conversation for the evening." |
