MILDNESS OF TEMPERATURE. 339 



late period ; and, indeed, like the water off Port 

 Fonlke, had not closed up completely until the 

 spring. I was much surprised to see the ice so 

 thin and washed away thus early in the season. 

 Small patches of open water were visible at points 

 where the conformation of the coast warranted the 

 conclusion that an eddy of the current had operated 

 upon the ice more rapidly than in other places. 



I was struck with the circumstance that no land 

 was visible to the eastward, as it would not have been 

 difficult through such an atmosphere to distinguish 

 land at the distance of fifty or sixty miles. It 

 would appear, therefore, that Kennedy Channel is 

 something wider than hitherto supposed. To the 

 northeast the sky was dark and cloudy, and gave 

 evidence of water; and Jensen, who watched the 

 rapid advance of the season with solicitude, was not 

 slow to direct my attention to the " water-sky." 



The temperature of the air was strangely mild, and 

 indeed distressingly so for traveling, although it pos- 

 sessed its conveniences in enabling us to sleep ujDon 

 our sledges in the open air with comfort. The lowest 

 temperature during the day was 20°; while, at one time, 

 it rose to the freezing-point, — the sun blazing down 

 upon us while we trudged on under our heavy load 

 of furs. The day seemed really sultry. To discard 

 our furs and travel in our shirt-sleeves was of course 

 our first impulse ; but to do so added to the load on 

 the sledges, and it was of the first importance that 

 the dogs should be spared every pound of unneces- 

 sary weight ; so each one carried his own coat upon 

 his back, and perspired after his own fashion. 



This unseasonable warmth operated greatly to our 

 disadvantage. The snow became slushy, and with so 



