388 IMPEDIMENTS FROM CALVES. [CHAP.VI. 



had only varied from 33° to 34° + , the excess 

 having been 40°+ in the southern exposure. 

 Notwithstanding the compactness of the ice, the 

 ship was this afternoon whirled round several 

 times ; and some calves becoming entangled 

 with our floe near the part where the people 

 were sawing, so impeded them, that the utmost 

 achieved was only five feet. 



Early on July Cth the work was renewed ; but 

 from having cut in too slanting a direction, little 

 was then accomplished : nevertheless, such w T as 

 their energy, that by noon fifty-three feet alto- 

 gether were completed, through a thickness of 

 twenty-six feet. Other parties were not behind 

 in their endeavours, and three good sized calves 

 were extricated from underneath heavier pieces, 

 whilst another was heard by the first Lieutenant 

 and myself grinding its passage out towards the 

 edge of the floe. The entire body of the ice 

 continued close as before, and Salisbury Island 

 bore about W. by N., the latitude being63°20' N., 

 longitude 75° %5 f W. Nothing could exceed the 

 gloominess of the weather ; and though from 

 the rain that fell it might have been expected 

 to clear, there was no improvement, and neither 

 wind nor ice seemed disposed to change. On 

 July 7th some rumbling noises were heard 

 by the officer of the watch, the precise cause of 



