1852.] ENTER BAFFIN'S BAY. 31 



canvas combined, to reach Plymouth, and, by rail, Lon- 

 don, earlier than the ' Basilisk,' bound to Portsmouth 

 with paddles and canvas. Much pleased with the dili- 

 gence and handling of these vessels by their respective 

 commanders, we cheered and parted company, thus se- 

 vering the last link on this side of Greenland. 



Shortly after parting with the steamers, we fell in with 

 a dead whale, and began to experience the customary 

 visitation of the fish-hunting birds, mollymoks, gulls, 

 etc., of Greenland. On the 15th of May, being in lati- 

 tude 57 56' north and longitude 38 26' west, we were 

 visited by a snow-bunting, and on the 20th noticed the 

 first iceberg ; but, although we passed between several 

 small pieces of ice, neither the air nor sea exhibited any 

 change of temperature. 



On the 1st of May we passed Cape Farewell, and on 

 the 24th were becalmed off Godhavu. The dredge was 

 sent down and some few shells obtained, but the cod- 

 fish and halibut, notwithstanding the most enticing baits 

 were tried, could not be induced to bite. Suddenly a 

 long rolling swell came in from the south-west, causing 

 the vessels to pitch very heavily, and, as they rose to the 

 summit of the wave, exhibiting the land-ice, not before 

 noticed, as lining the coast-line. The effect was curious, 

 and not pleasing. 



The customary routine of such tedious navigation con- 

 tinued until the 29th, when we got a fair wind and ran 

 up to the Whalefish Islands. 



As customary in these cases, reference was made to 

 "the voyages," and to persons on board who had been 

 here before ; but no one could afford any information 



