PENDULUM ISLAND. 287 



Philip Broke at half-past eleven a.m. on the 16th of 

 August, and anchored on the south side in six fathoms 

 of water, between some stranded blocks of ice. Every- 

 thing was at once prepared for the land expedition, 

 and the captain and Lieutenant Payer started first to 

 reconnoitre. 



We found the remains of some Esquimaux summer-huts 

 on the shore, with a great deal of moss and weeds. We 

 climbed a height of about 230 feet, and were busy fixing 

 a point for observation and building a cairn, when 

 in the distance we saw a remarkable-looking animal 

 which could be neither bear nor reindeer. Of musk-oxen 

 we never thought for a moment, and, when at length we 

 discovered that such was the creature before us, we were 

 indeed surprised. It was hunted down, however, and 

 killed by Peter Iversen. 



We afterwards f ouiid that the whole of the coast up to 

 77° was frequented by these ruminating creatures, but that 

 to the south their numbers decreased. With the rein- 

 deer the opposite seemed to prevail ; north of 75^° we 

 did not see a single one. 



In the evening calm. Ice formed everywhere, but dis- 

 appeared again upon the rising of a southerly breeze. 



The following day, on the 17tli of August, the land 

 expedition started. First-Lieutenant Payer received as 

 helpmates — Mr. Sengstacke, Peter Iversen, and Peter 

 Ellino'er : and the two astronomers took Theodor Klentzer. 

 They were provided with six days' provisions, and ordered 

 to return without delay when they saw the flag wave from 

 the Cape. 



