12 Leave Spitzhergenfor the North. 



reindeer and a walrus were killed on the Island of Vogel 

 Sang. The weather was calm, and the air mild and agreeable. 

 Temperature 45°. 



On the 2d June, the parties on shore were employed in erecting 

 the tents and observatory, and also two hvits, for the greater 

 convenience of the party I proposed to leave behind, to assist 

 Captain Sabine during my absence, — having determined to 

 employ the time requisite for completing the pendulum obser- 

 vations in endeavouring to push as far as I could towards the 

 north. The favourable circumstances of our passage hither, 

 and the open appearance of the ice, gave me flattering hopes of 

 advancing as far as any former navigator. 



On the two following days we were engaged in the necessary 

 preparations for the party which was to remain behind. Our 

 sportsmen were successful in procuring game. Much loose ice 

 about the ship, which was occasionally so completely blocked up 

 as to orevent communication with the shore, and one of the 

 whale-boats, was severely crushed by its suddenly setting in upon 

 the ship. 



I left a p^ty of six men to assist Captain Sabine, under the 

 command of Mr Foster, with Mr Rowland, assistant-surgeon, 

 with our largest boat (the launch), which could have carried 

 them to Hammerfest had any accident happened to the ship, 

 and six months' provisions and fuel. Mr. Foster was instructed, 

 in the event of the ship's not returning by the 20th, to prepare 

 for sea, but not to quit the present station before the 15th of 

 August, after which he was at liberty to act as might seem best 

 for the safety of his party. 



III. Unsticcessful attempt to reach from, Spitzhergen a high 

 Northern Latitttde. 



Every thing being ready by the evening of the 4th June, I sailed 

 with a favourable breeze next morning. No ice was in sight from 

 the mast-head. At 1 p. m. sounded in 16 fathoms, sand and 

 shells, passing two small rocks even with the water's edge, the 

 sea breaking over them. They bore from Cloven Cliffs per 

 compass N. E. by E. ^ E. 4 miles. About 3 p. m. it became 

 hazy, and we lost sight of the land. A thick fog came on 



