172 EARLIEST POLAR EXPLORATIONS 



tending full half-way over the bay, or to a distance of more than three miles, 

 and so close together that thirty have fallen at one shot. This living column 

 might be about six yards broad and as many deep; so that, allowing sixteen 

 birds to a cubic yard, there would be four millions of these creatures on the 

 wing at one time. 



"The reindeer," he says, "showed evident marks of affection for each 

 other. They were at this time in pairs, and when one was shot the other would 

 hang over it, and occasionally lick it, apparently bemoaning its fate ; and, if not 

 immediately killed, would stand three or four shots rather than desert its 

 fallen companion." 



Beechey also describes some ice-avalanches, a truly marvelous sight. 



"The first was occasioned by the discharge of a musket at about half a 

 mile's distance from the glacier. Immediately after the report of the gun, 

 a noise resembling. thunder was heard in the direction of the iceberg (glacier), 

 and in a few seconds more an immense piece broke away, and fell headlong 

 into the sea. The crew of the launch, supposing themselves beyond the reach 

 of its influence, quietly looked upon the scene, when presently a sea arose and 

 rolled toward the shore with such rapidity, that the crew had not time to take 

 any precautions, and the boat was in consequence washed upon the beach, and 

 completely filled by the succeeding wave. As soon as their astonishment had 

 subsided, they examined the boat, and found her so badly stove that it became 

 necessary to repair her in order to return to the ship. They had also the 

 curiosity to measure the distance the boat had been carried by the wave, and 

 found it to be ninety-six feet." 



In viewing the same glacier from a boat at a distance, a second avalanche 

 took place, which afforded them the gratification of witnessing the creation, 

 as it- were, of a sea iceberg; an opportunity which has occurred to few, though 

 it is generally understood that such monsters can only be generated on shore. 



"This occurred on a remarkably fine day, when the quietness of the bay 

 was first interrupted by the noise of the falling body. Lieutenant Franklin and 

 myself had approached. one of these stupendous walls of ice, and were endeav- 

 oring to search into the innermost recess of a deep cavern that was near the 

 foot of the glacier, when we heard a report as if of a cannon, and, turning to 

 the quarter whence it proceeded, we perceived an immense piece of the front 

 of the berg sliding down from the height of two hundred feet at least into the 

 sea, and dispersing the water in every direction, accompanied by a loud, grind- 

 ing noise, and followed by a quantity of water, which, being previously lodged 



