If, finally, in its drift it impinges on a coast, such as the western shore of the Weddell Sea, terrific pressure is set up and an inferno of ice-blocks, ridges, and hedgerows results, extending possibly for 150 or 200 miles off shore.

Sections of pressure ice may drift away subsequently and become embedded in new ice.
I have given this brief explanation here in order that the reader may understand the nature of the ice through which we pushed our way for many hundreds of miles.

Another point that may require to be explained was the delay caused by wind while we were in the pack.

When a strong breeze or moderate gale was blowing the ship could not safely work through any except young ice, up to about two feet in thickness.

As ice of that nature never extended for more than a mile or so, it followed that in a gale in the pack we had always to lie to.