NINE MONTHS IN THE ARCTIC. 175 



We saw, also, the broadside of a ship in the ice 

 near the shore, supposed to be lost the season 

 before. Another ship was reported to have been 

 seen by some of our party in the ice, some dis- 

 tance from the land, with her masts still stand- 

 ing. There were tracks in that direction in the 

 snow upon the ice, which showed that the na- 

 tives had been to her with their dog teams. 



As we passed along, we saw considerable drift 

 stuff, such as wood, broken casks, &c. We con- 

 tinued on in our course on the coast mostly, find- 

 ing huts from time to time, in which we obtained 

 provisions for our present necessities, until we 

 came within thirty or forty miles of East Cape, 

 or about half the distance between the river and 

 the cape. 



As the spring advanced, the sun was constant- 

 ly attaining a higher altitude — not only impart- 

 ing some additional heat, but its rays were pow- 

 erfully reflected from one dense, unbroken surface 

 of ice and snow, which every where met the eye 

 of the beholder. 



A new misfortune now assailed us in the form 

 of sore eyes, or snow blindness, which caused 

 intense pain in them, besides being much swol- 

 len. All light, especially bright light, became 

 exceedingly distressing to us. We therefore 

 were compelled to suspend our traveling in a 



