26 ICEBERGS. 



stream of ice were discerned to the west- 

 ward. We advanced close to the margin of the 

 latter, and then tacked off: it was composed of 

 large floe pieces, and ran in a direction from 

 N.W. to S. E. The rapid fall of the thermo- 

 meter in the night had indicated the vicinity 

 of ice, and now a thick fog coming on which 

 obscured the view, we were informed only by 

 the still greater depression of the temperature, 

 and by the roaring of the surf distinctly heard, 

 that we were not far from some considerable mass 

 of ice. Accordingly in the evening when the 

 weather cleared, we observed an enormous berg, 

 the perpendicular face of which was not less 

 than 300 feet high, and other smaller bergs, 

 nine altogether, in other directions. Prepar- 

 ations had been made for avoiding or escaping 

 the danger of a too close acquaintance with 

 these gigantic neighbours, in case the fog had 

 continued ; and, among other things, the boom 

 foresail had been bent, — a sail which, as nau- 

 tical men will be aware, is, by reason of its quick 

 movement, of excellent use in narrow channels 

 and consequently among ice, where it is ne- 

 cessary to alter course often and suddenly to 

 avoid the floating masses. The clearing of the 

 weather rendered these precautions for the pre- 

 sent unnecessary, and we proceeded on our 

 course with studding-sails set, until suddenly a 



