FURTHER COASTING OF THE GERMANIA. 303 



tember tlie first violent storm burst from the N.N.W., 

 accompanied by a heavy fall of snow. The wind came 

 down in gusts from the mountains, and we had to let 

 go our second anchor and pay out much cable, which 

 kept us secure. As on this coast all violent winds blow 

 from the north, anchorage is very insecure on the north 

 side, particularly in spring-time, when, on account of the 

 stronger motion of the ice, it is extremely dangerous. 



At last, on the morning of the 7th, the air cleared and 

 a fresh wind blew from the north. From the deck we 

 could see the heavy pack-ice drifting rapidly past our 

 harbour southwards ; the young ice, too, was loosened 

 and parted from the land, so that we were once more in 

 open water. Looking from the mountain, the pack-ice in 

 the east formed a complete block ; only about our island 

 and to the south of the island of Shannon was there 

 open water. On the eastern side from Klein-Pendulum, 

 too, a large field had been pushed forward and pressed 

 close to the land, so that even the road ta Shannon was 

 no longer open. In the night another heavy storm 

 burst, which obliged us to let go the second anchor. 

 The weather-side of the ship, and the bow, even under 

 the bowsprit, were covered over with a thick coating of 

 ice from the washing of the water. At midnight, under 

 a clear sky, a calm of several hours' duration fell sud- 

 denly ; but in the morning the wind again blew from the 

 north, sometimes assuming the force of a storm, as we 

 could see from the quick motion of the heavy pieces of 

 ice. We hoped that this continuous north wind would 

 sweep a clear path for us, and thus be favourable to 

 a last attempt at gaining the north. Accordingly, at 

 nine a.m., although it was still blowing freshly, we set sail. 



