304 THE JEANNETTE ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



crack more dangerously, I could not overcome the sense of 

 security which the sight caused me to feel. This land bore 

 N. 83 deg. 15 min. W. (true) from the ship. Our position at 

 the time was 76 deg. 43 min. N., and 161 deg. 54 min. E. 

 On the 18th, I could see the land from the floe-level. Pre- 

 vious to this I had seen it only from aloft. This land was 

 afterward named Jeannette Island. As illustrating the rap- 

 idity of our drift at this time, I mention the bearing of this 

 island from the ship on the 20th. It was S. 78 deg. 30 min. 

 W. It was much more plainly seen this day than before. 

 This island was not landed upon. 



On the 24th more land was seen. This afterward was 

 named Henrietta Island. Both islands were in sight this 

 evening. On the morning of May 31st, a party, consisting 

 of Mr. Melville, Mr. Dunbar, with Bartlett, Nindermann, 

 Erickson and Sharvell, left for the last new land. I was to 

 go, but, being taken suddenly ill, was unable to do so. This 

 illness was caused by eating canned tomatoes probably lead 

 poisoning. A number of the crew were similarly affected. 

 Mr. Chipp was thus troubled when the island party left the 

 ship. This party took with them a sled and fifteen dogs, 

 with boat, tent, rifles and provisions. They had a hard time 

 getting to the shore. 



The party returned on the 4th of June, having landed, 

 planted the Stars and Stripes, and taken possession. Three 

 points were named. The first, Bennett Headlands, are bold 

 and rocky. They form very secure nesting-places for multi- 

 tudes of guillemots and murres. A number of guillemots 

 ( U. grylle) were shot by Sharvell, and Bartlett saw num- 

 bers of eggs, but in inaccessible places. The next place was 

 Cape Melville, so named by the men. Between Bennett 

 Headlands and Cape Melville was Point Dunbar. Near here 

 a cairn was built, and some papers, suitably enclosed, buried 

 beneath. 



This island is from 2,500 to 3,000 feet high, barren and 

 rocky, with one large and some smaller glaciers on the 

 northern and eastern sides. The jacket of snow and ice 



