106 THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA. [CHAP. in. 



crustaceans, and sponges were very numerous in the 

 cold area, the tangles often came up absolutely loaded, 

 while there was but little within the dredge-bag. 



In the course of the last series of dredgings 

 we crossed the position of the bank on which we 

 got large specimens of Terebmtula cranium in 

 so great abundance the year before, but we could 

 not find it. The bank appears to be of very limited 

 area, and both on this occasion and on the previous 

 one the sky was so overcast for several days together, 

 just when we were in this neighbourhood, that it was 

 impossible to fix the position either of the 'Lightning' 

 or of the ' Porcupine ' by observation. A dead-reckon 

 ing is of course kept under great disadvantages whei 

 the vessel is drifting for the greater part of the time 

 half anchored by a dredge. 



Prom Station 59 we proceeded northward to Thors 

 havn, where we were warmly received by our kinc 

 friend Governor Holt en, who had been forewarned of 

 our visit, and at once came off in his barge to welcome 

 us. Governor Holten was uncommonly proud of this 

 barge, and he had some reason. She was a very hand 

 some trim boat; and, manned by a dozen stout Fseroese 

 boatmen in their neat uniform, and with the Danish 

 ensign flying at the stern, and our handsome friend 

 muffled in his military cloak, and with a thick hood 

 to keep out the somewhat palpable and intrusive 'cli 

 mate' of F&roe, she looked all that could be desired. 

 When the Governor came on board, he proposed to 

 Captain Calver to try a race with him for the honour 

 of old England and the white ensign. Some of us 

 were going ashore, and when the Governor came up 

 from the cabin our whale-boat was lying alongside 



