248 A NATURALIST ON THE "CHALLENGER." 



of deep shadows, have the appearance of having rocks upon 

 them when they have not. 



We entered the ice rather unexpectedly, on February 13th. 

 I was on deck at 11.30 p.m. Two icebergs were then in sight 

 aheas, only just visible in the dim foggy haze. They became 

 gradually more plain, and then a berg was reported right ahead. 

 Sail was shortened, and we glided slowly on. A line of mist, 

 contrasting strongly with the dark water, seemed in the un- 

 certain light, to be creeping over the surface of the sea towards 

 us ; in reality we were approaching it. Its edge was most sharply 

 defined. We passed it, and immediately the dark water showed 

 a sprinkling over of white dots, which looked as if they had been 

 snow-flakes, which for some reason had fallen on the water without 

 melting. These white specks became larger and larger, and closer 

 together, and all at once I realized that we were amongst the ice. 

 The thin layer of mist was hanging over its edge. 



The pieces increased rapidly in size and thickness, as we 

 went farther and farther ahead, until, in a very few minutes, we 

 were forcing our way through a sort of soup-like looking fluid, 

 full of large pieces of ice. The pieces were as much as six feet 

 long, and three or four broad, all flat slabs, and standing six 

 inches or so out of the water. The pieces bumped and grated 

 against the ship's side, and the water line being near the level of 

 the officers' heads, as they lay in their berths asleep, several 

 came up on deck to see what had happened. We soon steered 

 out of the edge of the pack again. 



Next morning I viewed the ice from the foretop, and 

 made a sketch of its appearance {see the coloured plate oppo- 

 site). All along the horizon, southwards, was a white line of ice, 

 broken here and there by the outlines of bergs fast in the pack at 

 various distances from the ship ; some partly beyond the horizon, 

 and with only their tops showing ; others at the outer edge of the 

 vast expanse of ice ; others at all intermediate positions. 



The field of ice appeared continuous, except just near its 

 edge, where meandering openings, like rivers, led into it, some- 

 times for a mile or so. The edge of the pack was very irregular, 

 projecting as it were in capes and promontories, with bays 

 Ik 'tween, as on a broken coast-line. The fields of ice were made 



