BENNETT ISLAND. 657 



In vain I climbed np several large hummocks and 

 kept Mr. Dunbar running around in quest of a better 

 place for crossing. Melville had already commenced 

 the herculean task of digging away some of these huge 

 slabs to level a road, in case we could manage the wa- 

 ter-gaps, which seemed almost impossible, when the 

 doctor said he had seen what he thought a better way 

 of crossing farther to the northward. We hastened to 

 the spot, and by some work and management, I think 

 we can get across this mess and on the level ice beyond. 

 But it was now six a. m. and our usual supper time, 

 and we had made nearly four miles. The work of cross- 

 ing would probably require three hours ; so, instead of 

 continuing at once, I decided to get supper first and 

 proceed afterwards. I am too anxious to leave this 

 mess behind us, to camp on this side of it, and though 

 we have made a good three and one fourth miles 

 already, I must keep the men at it for a little while 

 longer. The barometer is falling rapidly, 29.95 at 44°, 

 and though the temperature is 31°, I anticipate a S. E. 

 wind, and do not want to lose the grip I almost feel I 

 have on the land. 



The action of the ice in formation is nicely shown 

 by blocks of wasted (needle) ice, which we pick up and 

 can pull in pieces. The doctor called my attention to- 

 day to the distinct manner in which the hexagonal 

 prisms were visible, and the vacuole, as well as the lines 

 of successive freezing. The formation is like that of 

 muriate of ammonia, or the basaltic columns in Fin- 

 gal's Cave. The blocks can be easily separated, flake 

 by flake, vertically, and at each freezing line horizon- 

 tally. (See Appendix G.) 



By 7.20 a. m. everything was up to the edge of the 

 rotten pack, and we sat down as soon as possible to 

 42 



