1902] NEW LAND 133 



quickly dispelled it. But what a land ! On the swelling 

 mounds of snow above us there was not one break, not 

 a feature to give definition to the hazy outline. In- 

 stinctively one felt that such a scene as this was most per- 

 fectly devised to produce optical illusions in the explorer, and 

 to cause those errors into which we had found even experienced 

 persons to be led. What could be the height of that misty 

 summit ? And what the distance of that shadowy undulation? 

 Instruments provided no answer — we could but guess; and 

 although guesses gave an average height of 800 or 900 feet to 

 the visible horizon, one would have been little surprised to 

 learn that the reality was half or double that amount. 



Around us were several icebergs grounded in the shallow 

 sea ; some lay on their sides, and in these for the first time 

 we saw discoloured layers caused by embedded sand and dirt. 

 Our geologist departed in a boat to inspect these bands, whilst 

 we lowered a small net and delighted the biologist's heart 

 with a good haul from the sea floor. 



It was late at night before all was ready for proceeding, and 

 by this time the eastern sky was banking up, and later the air 

 was thick with falling snow. A sounding at 2 a.m. gave us the 

 bottom at 265 fathoms, and at six the snow ceased and we 

 could see a 200-foot ice-wall again with slopes estimated to rise 

 to 500 feet behind. But an hour or more later, when all were 

 once more astir for the day's work, a thick fog descended on 

 us, blotting out for the time all hope of seeing what lay beyond 

 the ice-foot. 



Throughout the morning and afternoon of the 30th we 

 continued to grope our way along, endeavouring to keep close 

 to the ice masses on our right, whilst avoiding the deeper bays. 

 Now and then the foggy curtain lifted slightly and revealed 

 what lay within a mile or two of us, but beyond that all was 

 tantahsingly obscure. Soundings were taken frequently, and, 

 varying from 90 to 100 fathoms, showed that we were again in 

 comparatively shallow water. 



During the night the trend of the ice-foot had carried us 

 due north, but in the morning we turned sharply to the east, 



