54 THE GERMAN AECTIC EXPEDITION. 



with spirits and water we could only work when, sailor 

 fashion, we constantly beat our arras across our breast. 

 Still more difficult is it to skin birds, seek for entozoa and 

 such like, work which cannot always be carried on in the 

 cabin, but which makes little progress with cold, stiff 

 fingers. 



As already mentioned, we sighted the island of Jan 

 Mayen on the 9th of July. The Hansa passed it at 

 about one and a half German miles to the eastward. 

 Had the weather been clear, we should long since have 

 been able to see the highest point of the island, the 

 Beerenberg. The atmosphere was, however, heavy and 

 gloomy, and was as little inclined to grant the beautiful 

 sight to us as it is to other sailors. Just at dawn we 

 caught a glimpse of streaks of glaciers ; the know- 

 ledge that land, and that of so interesting a nature, 

 was so near, caused great excitement amongst the scien- 

 tific part of the community ; and it was no wonder that, 

 after such long inaction and crossing of our wishes, the 

 question of attempting a landing on Jan Mayen was 

 more eagerly discussed than ever. But, even if, set- 

 ting aside the strict letter of our instructions, we had 

 consented to this interesting attempt, the ever- thickening 

 fog and the windward sea-roll on the eastern side of the 

 island would have rendered it impossible ; and on the 

 western side it would only have been possible with great 

 loss of time. Meanwhile, we kept near to land, that we 

 might at least have a view of its wonders as long as 

 possible. At last, just before breakfast, our expectations 

 seemed likely to be fulfilled ; the fog lifted a little, and at 

 some miles' distance we saw a tolerable stretch of broken, 

 rocky and rugged coast. It must have been the north- 



