SAILING ON THE ICE. 435 



and tedious operation. To render the task easier, they 

 are, therefore, aceustonied from time to time to deposit 

 the heavier portion of the stores on the ice ; and, after 

 proceeding a short distance fartlier, to return and fetch 

 them in kdlkar, or hand-sledges. Bat the several stages, 

 so to say, are very short, seldom exceeding an English 

 mile, the men heing fearful that a sudden disruption of 

 the ice, as frequently happens, might separate them from 

 their haggage. 



Their mode of proceeding when " under sail" on the 

 ice is somewhat curious. Two men, with their hands on 

 the lee gun-wale, run alongside of the boat to prevent 

 her capsizing ; whilst the skipper, holding hy the outer 

 end of the as — as a long pole fixed across the craft is 

 called, and which answers the purpose of a rudder — steers 

 and steadies her. If, however, the boat be simply drawn 

 on the ice, then the services of the skipper only arc 

 required, the rest of the crew having, meantime, ample 

 employment at the hauling-lincs. 



When at length the boat is fairly afloat, tlie men 

 navigate her as best they can amongst the numerous 

 ice-fields that are drifting in every direction about the 

 gulf. Soine of these are miles and miles in extent ; and 

 when, from storms, several have packed one above the 

 other, regular icebergs — often many fathoms in height — 

 are formed. Durinsr the Avinter tliese "floes" and ice- 

 fields ai*e pretty sound and secure; but, as the spring 

 advances, they become full of holes and fissui-es. In these 

 the seals, more especially the P. Grypus, often congregate 

 in large numljers — at times, it is said, in droves of several 

 hundreds. Such an assemblage is called a SMl-Ldger, 

 or seal-encampment. Here one sees the old males, and the 

 females with their cubs, lying huddled together indis- 

 criminately. Immediately near to a " Ltiger " is always 

 open water, in the shape of so-called Brunnar, or wells, 



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