VISIT TO THE BIENENKOEB. 267 



the skin being salted, and afterwards sold for 15 or 20 

 tlialers. Looking beyond the ship we saw the tail fins of 

 some narwhals {Monodon monoceros, L.). These creatures 

 are common here, but are seldom harpooned as they are 

 uncommonly quick in their movements. We then went 

 down into the cabin to enjoy the usual bottle of sherry. 

 Captain Hagen's report of the condition of the ice was 

 most unfavourable. Since the beginning of June easterly 

 winds had prevailed, on account of which the ice was now 

 dense and closely packed for some miles. These obser- 

 vations were afterwards confirmed by the Hansa, which 

 about this time was blockaded by the ice. We also learnt 

 that there were several ships further south, amongst which 

 we hoped to meet with Captain Gray, commander of the 

 Eclipse fi'om Peterhead (Scotland). Dr. Dorst showed us 

 some interesting drawings of the narwhal and several 

 views of Jan Mayen, which island the Bienenkorb was 

 fortunate enough to see in a clear atmosphere. We 

 returned to the Germania about midnight. Meanwhile 

 the wind had freshened, but there was a thick fog ; so we 

 had to remain under sail amongst the block. The fol- 

 lowing day at noon (21st) the weather brightened, and we 

 saw that we were more or less surrounded with drift-ice ; 

 and with a light south-west breeze it was useless to at- 

 tempt any advance westward. We therefore lay-to, and as 

 there was a large floe close to us, with several pools of 

 water upon it, we landed in order to renew our store of 

 fresh water, which was nearly exhausted. This was the 

 first time during the voyage that we had set foot on the 

 ice, and the opportunity of closely observing it was not 

 lost. Besides this, the deep blue light proceeding from 

 the cavity of an ice block was subjected to an analysis 

 by the spectroscope. 



