one, or perhaps more islands follow, narrowing E. and W. and forming
Cape Chudleigh.

To-day there was much ice both in the strait and at sea. We went to the
nearest island, where Brother Kohlmeister took an observation, and found
our situation to be 60° 16'.

30th. It blew a hard gale from the N.E., rained hard, and as the ice now
began to enter our harbour, we were busily engaged in keeping it off the
boat.

31st. Imagining to-day that the straits would be free from ice, we
resolved to attempt to pass them, and set sail. But it soon became
evident, that there was still plenty of ice in the neighbourhood, and
the wind setting to the N.E. with fogs, we were obliged to return.
Suspecting also that the easterly wind would again drive the ice into
our former harbour at Oppernavik, we ran into a short pass, between that
and a small island called Ammitok, where we anchored under shelter of
the island. The sequel proved, that we had for once acted with sound
judgment and foresight, for our former anchoring-ground was soon filled
with ice; and during the night large flakes entered even into our
present place of refuge.

_August_ 1st. At day break we found ourselves completely surrounded by
floating ice, a strong N.W. wind driving the large shoals from the W.
side of the little pass in which we lay, with much force towards us,
insomuch that our boat was in the greatest danger of being crushed to
pieces by them. We were all day long hard at work with poles,
boat-hooks, and hatchets, to ward off the larger shoals, but when the
tide fell, they hung upon our cables and anchors, of which we had three