190 ON THE EFFECTING OF 



lander aboard ; and so strong is this absurd impression on 

 the minds of those men, whose habits are familiar with the 

 most disgusting scenes of slaughter, that the utmost un- 

 easiness is signified lest such a shocking purpose should be 

 effected. 



flimsy patches : the cirrus streamers continued throughout this day 

 fixed in nearly the direction of W. S. W. and E. N. E. which points 

 correspond with the magnetical variation, observed on a meridian 

 azimuth compass, by which I ascertained the variation to be some- 

 what beyond sixty -seven degrees north-west : latitude observed at 

 noon 73° 46' N. At midnight the radiation ceased, and the 

 south-western region was darkly clouded, to which the rich sun-light 

 of the hour afforded a pleasing contrast : at this hour tlie Ijursting of 

 an ice berg rung upon the welkin for several minutes, with a 

 i-eport louder than that of the heaviest ordnance : thirty-two sail 

 near : ship grappled in a flaw. 



July 8: ther. 32°, 40°, 28°: wind N.E., fi-esh breeze: stiU an- 

 chored at the flaw which shifts slowly to the southward ; a strong 

 tide current setting in that direction : at noon the tide flowed rapidly 

 to the northward, causing numerous eddies along the edge of the 

 flaw: the course of the current by compass was N.E. which, aUoAving 

 for variation, is nearly N.N.W. more westerly: the whole sky during 

 the forenoon was covered with broad irregular masses of cirrostratus 

 of a light brown colour: the procellaria glacialis unusually active, 

 which may be considered a certain indication of a strong wind ; also 

 the kittiwake appeared in great number, and was very clamorous. 



