Voyage through the Kara Sea. 185 



all night, in readiness to turn as soon as land was 

 observed ahead. Satisfied that things were in good 

 hands, as it was Sverclrup's watch, I lay down in my 

 berth with a lighter mind than I had had for long. 



At 6 o'clock next morning (September 7th) Sverclrup 

 roused me with the information that w T e had passed 

 Taimur Island, or Cape Lapteff, at 3 a.m., and were now 

 at Taimur Bay, but with close ice and an island ahead. 

 It was possible that we might reach the island, as a 

 channel had just opened through the ice in that direc- 

 tion ; but we were at present in a tearing "whirlpool' 

 current, and should be obliged to put back for the 

 moment. After breakfast I went up into the crow's nest. 

 It was brilliant sunshine. I found that Sverdrup's island 

 must be mainland, which, however, stretched remarkably 

 far west compared with that given on the maps. I could 

 still see Taimur Island behind me, and the most easterly 

 of Almquist's Islands lay gleaming in the sun to the 

 north. It was a long sandy point that we had ahead, 

 and I could follow the land in a southerly direction till 

 it disappeared on the horizon at the head of the bay in 

 the south. Then there was a small strip where no land, 

 only open water, could be made out. After that the 

 land emerged on the west side of the bay, stretching 

 towards Taimur Island. With its heights and round 



o 



knolls this land was essentially different from the low- 

 coast on the east side of the bay. 



To the north of the point ahead of us I saw open 



