204 



THE VOYAGE OF THE JEANNETTE. 



tlie crew, headed by Boatswain Cole, came aft into tlie 

 cabin to wish us all a merry Christmas, and to invite us 

 into the deck-house to hear a little music. We thanked 

 them for their courtesy and went to the deck-house, 

 where they played music, sang songs, and Alexey gave 

 us a native dance. At all events the crew seemed to 

 have a merry Christmas. 



December 26/A, Friday. — At 10.15 p. m. a sharp 

 crack was heard on our starboard side, and on going 

 on deck to look for a cause open water was discerned 

 ahead and on our port side to the eastw^ard about three 

 hundred yards distant. I went out to it aiid found that 



A Peculiar Ice Form. 



the ice had opened into a channel about twelve feet 

 wide, extending for about a mile north and south, and 

 curving around our bow to some new ice made over an 

 opening of yesterday. I must now believe that this 

 ocean is subject to tidal action, for as all our pressures 

 have been at or about the times of full and new moon 

 (full moon, October 29th ; new, November loth ; full, 

 November 28th ; new, December 12th ; full, December 

 28tli), they can be traced to the greater movement due 

 to the spring tides, as suggested by Chipp, on October 

 31st. 



