FROM THE SEPARATION OF THE SHIPS. 69 



stretched almost due north and south. The Hansa 

 reached the ice-line the same day in 74° 57' N. Lat., and 

 9° 41' W. Long-. The log-book of the Germania says, 

 " Heard the rushing of the v^ater against the ice, but 

 unfortunately could see nothing on account of the fog. 

 Temperature of the sea's surface 32° Fahr., a sure sign 

 that we were near the ice; tacked therefore, and ran 

 with a soutli-westerly wind some miles to the north- 

 west, until the floes became so dense that we were obliged 

 to turn. Steered in the fog along the ice northward. 

 At four in the afternoon a point was passed, from which 

 the line seemed to stretch more westward. Accordingly 

 we sailed in that direction, and about seven came again 

 to compact ice, which obliged us to turn and lie to. The 

 fog was now so dense that we could only make out the 

 pieces nearest to us. To judge by the breakers, the ice 

 here stretched again to the north. On the morning of 

 the 16th of July, the atmosphere lightened a little ; when 

 we set all sail and made for the ice, which was soon 

 in sight. Towards the north and north-north-east lay 

 a long chain of closely packed pieces ; to the west and 

 north-west opened a large bay, into which we sailed, 

 that we might inspect nearer the position of the ice. 

 By eleven we reached what was to all appearance the 

 end of this bay, namely, a chain of drift ice, behind 

 which, to westward, some open water showed itself, 

 surrounded with ice. As it was not our intention to 

 make any serious attempt to advance until we fell in 

 with the Hansa, once more we lay to, in order to 

 wait for clearer weather." The first excitement and 

 restlessness had by this time subsided, and we could 

 observe surrounding nature more at our leisure. When 



