220 SURVEY OF FLOE. [CHAP.V. 



condition. At noon, soundings were found in 

 ninety-five fathoms, but no land was visible. The 

 latitude, however, by a hazy sun, was 64° 21' N. 

 This day was remarkable as that on which our 

 oldest invalid was rescued from the sick list, 

 but though well in general health his leg con- 

 tinued crooked. A parhelion was seen, whose 

 semidiameter was 23° : the barometer was slowly 

 rising, and at length the sky began to clear, so 

 that about 4 h p. m. land was made out to the 

 south east, and also astern. 



About night fall a lane of water appeared on 

 the western extremity of the floe, extending 

 round the northern part of it to south east. 

 The night itself was beautifully clear, and soon 

 after midnight quite calm. The barometer again 

 fell, and at 6 h a m. a light air came from the 

 south west. We had been of late so enveloped 

 in mist and snow drift, that a fine day was quite 

 a treat ; and after divisions and the usual inspec- 

 tion of the decks, all hands rambled about the 

 floe, which now formed the limit of our excursions. 

 I, also, as undisputed sovereign of the floe, (and 

 never certainly was monarch more anxious to 

 preserve the integrity of his territory, or more 

 jealous of the smallest encroachment on his 

 border,) went forth to make a survey of my 

 icy domain. After tracing the various cracks 

 from one extreme to the other, I was sorry 



