288 THE VOYAGE OF THE " FRAM " 



was about eight geographical miles, and southward, as 

 far as we could see, lay loose bay ice. We held on to the 

 east outside this drift-ice and along the eastern Barrier 

 till past midnight, but as Balloon Bight was not to be 

 found, we returned to the above-mentioned break or 

 cape, where we lay during the whole forenoon of the 

 13th, as the ice was too thick to allow us to make any 

 progress. After midday, however, the ice loosened, 

 and began to drift out ; at the same time we went»in, and 

 having gone as far as possible, the Fram was moored to 

 the fast ice-foot on the western side of the great bay we 

 had entered. It proved that Balloon Bight and another 

 bight had merged to form a great bay, exactly as 

 described by Sir Ernest Shackleton, and named by him 

 the Bay of Whales. 



After mooring here, the Chief and one or two others 

 went on a reconnoitring tour; but it began to snow 

 pretty thickly, and, as far as I am aware, nothing was 

 accomplished beyond seeing that the Barrier at the 

 southernmost end of the bay sloped evenly down to 

 the sea-ice; but between the latter and the slope there 

 was open water, so that they could not go any farther. 

 We lay all night drifting in the ice, which was con- 

 stantly breaking up, and during this time several seals 

 and penguins were shot. Towards morning on the 14th 

 it became quite clear, and we had a splendid view of 

 the surroundings. Right over on the eastern side of 

 the bay it looked as if there was more open water; we 



