NARRATIVE OF A YOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEN. 475 



20 square feet of planks on either side, united and 

 consolidated by blocks of timber. We likewise se- 

 cured the corners of the fothering sails to staples 

 di-iven into the counters of the ship, whereby less 

 interruption was made in the course of the water 

 to the rudder, and consequently a better effect 

 might be expected from it. And lastly, we filled a 

 number of empty casks in the after-hold, some with 

 sea-water out of the ship's hold, and others with 

 fresh water from the surface of the ice, for the pur- 

 pose of trimming the ship more by the stem, to 

 compensate in some degree for the loss of the after- 

 keel. 



All these matters being completed, we should 

 have, immediately made sail, but on account of a 

 strong wind and thick weather we could not, with- 

 out imminent danger, attempt to penetrate the 

 compact body of ice, that at this time barred our 

 escape to the sea. I therefore took the advantage 

 of the opportunity to procure a long rest, which I 

 found so refreshing, after the unusual exhaustion 1 

 had experienced, that I arose after many hours, 

 perfectly restored. 



In the forenoon of the 6th of July, the wind sub- 

 sided, and the fog cleared away ; we therefore cast 

 off from the ice. When the ship was under sail, 

 we made the necessary experiments of wearing, 

 tacking, plying, &c. in which we were pleased to 

 find, that the rudder answered the intention, though, 



2 



