i(H CURIOUS PHENOMENON. 



Our own position was something nearer the 

 rocks, and moreover a little to the westward. 



There being now, as was thought, wind enough 

 for the kite, it was sent up, but as in repeated 

 trials it only mounted about two hundred and 

 fifty feet, we desisted. It was evident, indeed, that 

 the wind only prevailed to that height, which 

 was also, according to appearance, nearly the 

 height of the dark vapour surrounding us. 



It had been remarked for a considerable time, 

 that though the water immediately froze every- 

 where else, yet on the larboard beam of the ship, 

 about ten or twelve feet from the bends at the base 

 of the snow embankment, there was always sludge, 

 or on its removal, salt-water in its place, though 

 the ice beneath was solid. I remember three in- 

 stances of the same kind in rivers, where, not- 

 withstanding the low state of temperature, the 

 surface for some distance, near particular spots, 

 was invariably so moist, that our snow-shoes 

 were coated with ice, which it was necessary to 

 scrape away. In the present instance, the phe- 

 nomenon was not confined to any precise period, 

 but existed through the neap as well as the 

 spring tides. The days now dwindled fast away, 

 the sun being only visible for a few minutes at 

 11 o'clock. It rose above the edge of a serrated 

 hill, and in favourable weather, brightened the 

 gloomy outline. Its altitude w r as 2° 10'. 



