io8 Smithsonian Exploration in Alaska in 1904 



stroyed and tall grasses spring up on the fresh mehow ground as 

 it accumulates from time to time,, growing lush and rank, though in 

 many places that we noted these new soil-beds are not more than a 

 foot in depth, and lie on the solid ice." 



[Cruise of the U. S. Revenue Steamer Corwin in the Arctic Ocean in 

 1881. Notes and Observations. By Captain C. L. Hooper. Treasury De- 

 partment Document No. 601. Washington, 1884, pp. 79-82. With a text 

 'igure and two photographs.] 



"At meridian of the 7th (Sept., 1881) we steamed over to Ele- 

 phant Point, and came to anchor off the remarkable ice formation 

 for which that place is celebrated. During the afternoon, accom- 

 panied by Messrs. Muir and Nelson, I went on shore to make an 

 examination of the ice-cliff. In my report of the cruise of the Cor- 

 win in 1880, I made mention of this phenomenon : 



" We spent several days in the vicinity of Elephant Point examin- 

 ing this and smaller ice formations which were discovered by our 

 exploring parties from day to day; and although it is not claimed 

 that all doubt is set at rest on this subject, we can safely assert that 

 the large quantity of ice known to be here precludes the possibility 

 of Beechey's explanation being the true one. Several hundred feet 

 back from the edge of the cliff, at a place where a cave had occurred, 

 caused by a small stream of running water, we found ice clear and 

 solid. Ice appears in the face of the cliff in several places, but that 

 discovered by Kotzebue is much the larger. This is about half a 

 mile in length, and although its exact width is not known, it may 

 safely be assumed to be not less than 300 feet. At about 400 feet 

 back from the edge of the cliff the ground rises quite abruptly for 

 80 or 100 feet, and changes froin the springy, mossy covering to a 

 solid mass of earth and stones, and in several places large bosses of 

 lichen-covered granite are exposed to view. Although but two feet 

 beneath the surface, in no place is ice exposed on the top. The layer 

 of mossy turf covers it as evenly as if laid on by man to protect it 

 from the sun's rays. That it owes its existence now to this covering 

 of moss I have no doubt, but its origin is not so clear. The grass 

 referred to by Kotzebue grows along the edge of the cliff, and on 

 all irregularities on the face of the ice where the soil from above has 

 been undermined by the melting and falling over, has lodged. Con- 

 sidering its cold foundation and the shortness of the season, the 

 growth of this grass is almost phenomenal. Specimens collected 

 by us, growing on a mere handful of soil on the very face of the ice 

 cliff, were 4 feet long, and when dry emitted the fragrant odor of 

 fresh, new hay. 



