i9] THE IMPRISONING ICE 23 



any rate. Rennick got a sounding 2124 fathoms, similar bottom 

 including volcanic lava. 



December 13 (cont.). 6j 30' S. 177 58' W. Made good 

 S. 20 E. 27'. C. Crozier S. 21 W. 644'. We got in several 

 tons of ice, then pushed off and slowly and laboriously worked 

 our way to one of the recently frozen pools. It was not easily 

 crossed, but when we came to its junction with the next part to 

 the S.W. (in which direction I proposed to go) we were quite 

 hung up. A little inspection showed that the big floes were tend- 

 ing to close. It seems as though the tenacity of the 6 or 7 inches 

 of recent ice over the pools is enormously increased by lateral 

 pressure. But whatever the cause, we could not budge. 



We have decided to put fires out and remain here till the 

 conditions change altogether for the better. It is sheer waste of 

 coal to make further attempts to break through as things are at 

 present. 



We have been set to the east during the past days; is it the 

 normal set in the region, or due to the prevalence of westerly 

 winds? Possibly much depends on this as concerns our date of 

 release. It is annoying, but one must contain one's soul in pa- 

 tience and hope for a brighter outlook in a day or two. Mean- 

 while we shall sound and do as much biological work as is possible. 



The pack is a sunless place as a rule; this morning we had 

 bright sunshine for a few hours, but later the sky clouded over 

 from the north again, and now it is snowing dismally. It is calm. 



Wednesday, December 14. Position, N. 2', W. J4'. The 

 pack still close around. From the masthead one can see a few 

 patches of open water in different directions, but the main out- 

 look is the same scene of desolate hummocky pack. The wind 

 has come from the S.W., force 2 ; we have bright sunshine and 

 good sights. The ship has swung to the wind and the floes 

 around are continually moving. They change their relative posi- 

 tions in a slow, furtive, creeping fashion. The temperature is 

 35 , the water 29-2 to 29-5. Under such conditions the thin 

 sludgy ice ought to be weakening all the time; a few inches of 

 such stuff should allow us to push through anywhere. 



One realises the awful monotony of a long stay in the pack, 

 such as Nansen and others experienced. One can imagine such 

 days as these lengthening into interminable months and years. 



