MY BROTHER JOHN'fcj GLACIER. 107 



layers of moss,) a sort of peat, with which we can 

 readily eke out our supply of fuel. A specimen of it 

 brought on board burns quite freely with the addition 

 of a little grease. This pool of water, in accordance 

 with Sonntag's wish, bears the name of Alida Lake. 



The valley, which I have named "Chester," in re- 

 membrance of a spot which I hope to see again, is two 

 miles long by one broad, and is covered in many places, 

 especially along the borders of the lake, with a fine 

 sod of grass, from which the wind has driven the sno\v 

 and made the locality tempting to the deer. Severn! 

 herds, amounting in the aggregate to something like 

 a hundred animals, were browsing upon the dead grass 

 of the late summer ; and, forgetting for the time the 

 object of my journey, I could not resist the tempta- 

 tion to try my rifle upon th^m. I was rewarded with 

 two large fat bucks, while Jensen secured an equal 

 number. 



The glacier was discovered by Dr. Kane in 1855, 

 and, being subsequently visited by his brother, who 

 was an assistant surgeon in the United States Expedi- 

 tion of Search under Captain Hartstene in 1855, was 

 named by the former, " My Brother John's Glacier." 

 It has been christened a shorter name by the crew, 

 and is known as " Brother John." It has frequently 

 been seen from the hill-tops and bay by all of us, but 

 not visited until to-day. We reached home in time 

 for dinner, weary enough and very cold, for the tem- 

 perature was several d egrees below zero, and the wdnd 

 was blowing sharply. 



During my absence McCormick has employed the 

 crew in securing the boats, one of which was blown 

 ashore and its side stove in by the violence of the 

 gale, and hi sawing out and unshipping the rudder. 



