FUETHER VOYAGE OF THE Hx\NSA. 87 



Evening, fast again in 74° 36'4' N.L. and 15° 49-1' 

 "VY.L. For zooloQ-ical observation there was mucli to 



a 



interest. The body of a Plioca Greenlandica had drawn 

 numerous ivory gulls together. Two birds {Strej^silas 

 interpres) were observable on the new ice ; and the dredge 

 produced us many beautiful star-fishes and molluscs. 



August 24th : a boat excursion to the land ; captain, 

 two officers, Dr. Laube, and two sailors. We left 

 the ship at two o'clock, and pressed forward to within 

 sixteen nautical miles of the land. Passed a peculiar icy 

 formation, which we named the " Flower-basket." Saw 

 the coast very distinctly from a tall hummock, which we 

 climbed, and hoisted the German flag upon it. Further 

 we could not go, as the ice was too close, and a late 

 return to the ship, which was ever drifting southwards, 

 would be very difficult in a possibly rising fog. Return 

 journey began quarter past seven in the evening. On 

 board once more by half-past twelve at night. The 

 position of the ice was much altered, and a dense fog 

 came up, so that we could scarcely find our way, and 

 were often obliq:ed to haul the boat over the floes. 

 W. Bade's diary describes with genuine sailor's humour 

 the frugal evening meal under the open sky upon the 

 ice during their excursion. In the hurry, only hard 

 bread and some cocoa had been brought with us. and 

 a few bottles of sherry and brandy. Cigars never failed. 

 " At first, owing to the lowness of the temperature, we 

 could not succeed in boiling the water; and in order 

 to concentrate the heat had to lay our sou' -westers over 

 the machine — a very questionable proceeding, inasmuch 

 as these oilskin coverings were with great difficulty saved 

 from the flames, which readily caught them." On the 25th 



