204 PHENOMENA OF ICE. [CHAP.IV. 



rature and calm weather, in the severest portion 

 of the winter, no addition of bulk takes place 

 from the surface downwards when protected as our 

 floe was by a hard coating of snow and drift. The 

 doubling and packing of ice during gales of wind, 

 and when exposed to severe pressure, as well as 

 the growth of bergs and extensive fields, are 

 phenomena which the attentive observations of 

 modern voyagers have rendered familiar ; and, by 

 an extension of the above remark, another ex- 

 planation besides the action of the waves (for the 

 mere heat of the sun has little influence) is 

 afforded, how it is that the destruction of the 

 immense fields of ice is effected, not indeed by 

 pointing out the agents of the destruction, but 

 by showing how little may, in many instances, 

 be added in successive winters to the bulk to be 

 destroyed. The fact that no new deposition 

 takes place underneath seems also at once to 

 account for the decayed and wasting appearance, 

 which every one accustomed to Polar navigation 

 must have noticed in what is called the old ice, 

 of which sailors will sometimes say — " Aye, sir, 

 that piece is older than I am, but it cannot last 

 above another summer." 



January 29th. The weather, though fine over- 

 head was thick about the southern boundary of 

 our view, but from the aspect of a point of 

 Ridge Cliff, which bore S. 82° 30' W., it was 



