220 THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. [chap. 



images of the pieces of ice at the horizon, and gave them the 

 most wonderful and beautiful forms. Everywhere there were 

 upon the ice fresh-water pools, some of which were of great 

 extent and of no inconsiderable depth. Thus, on the ice-field 

 lying nearest the vessel there were different "lakes," one of 

 which was used for drinking, another for filling the water-casks, 

 a third to supply washing-water to the crew, and a fourth for 

 washing their clothes. 



On the |!^^^. the ice began to be pressed together by a light 

 W.S.W. wind. Convinced that the vessel would soon be nipped, 

 the men on board began to save the stock of provisions and the. 

 boats, by placing them on the ice, but the pressure soon ceased. 

 There fell a heavy rain, which afterwards, when the wind 

 changed to north-west, passed into snow. On the ^*^^*; the 

 coast of Yailmal was sighted. A fathom-thick ice-floe shot 

 under the vessel and caused it to heel over to starboard. The 

 following day there was a storm from the S.S.W. with snow 

 The ice forcing itself forward shook the vessel several times so 

 violently that the crew rushed up to save the provisions, &c., on 

 the ice. They were now in the neighbourhood of 70° N.L. and 

 65° E.L. (Greenwich), almost right off the mouth of the Kara 

 river. The crew worked the whole day with axes and iron bars 

 hewing off the sharp projecting corners of the ice-blocks that 

 were pressed against the vessel. On the ^^^'^^g- there was warm 

 weather with rain. The ice was in so violent motion that it 

 was impossible to walk upon it. On the afternoon of the same 

 day the Ycrmak sustained several violent concussions, and the 

 hull was lifted one foot. On the ^{^ September, a violent storm 

 broke out, which drove the vessel to the north-east. It was ex- 

 pected every moment that the vessel would be nipped, and a 

 tent was accordingly pitched on the ice, in order that part of the 

 provisions from the hold might be placed in it. Wood even was 

 cari'ied to it. It was Russia's thousand-years' day, and it was 

 celebrated with a festive ball and merry songs, although they 

 every instant expected their vessel to be crushed by the masses 

 of ice that were pressed together by the fearful storm. On the 

 ]^ September, tlie stem of the vessel was forced five feet above 

 the water-line, and the whole night a continual cracking of 

 timbers was heard in the hull. The water rose rapidly to a 

 depth of two feet. Every man left the vessel and removed 

 to the ice, but soon after the immense ice-field on which the 

 tent was pitched went in pieces, while the leak in the vessel 

 closed, and the crew in consequence went on board again. On 

 the j^^ September, the vessel was again pressed so, that the deck 

 at times was bent to the form of a vault. On the ^ September, 

 von Krusenstern called the crew together that they might 

 choose from their number three persons to advise with the 



