VOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEN. 49 



Between one and two o'clock this morning, I 

 was much entertained by the sun darting his rays 

 through the cabin windows. 



30th, Cast off from the iceberg, and endeavour- 

 ed to force our way through the ice in a northern 

 direction, till it became so thick and close around 

 us, that we were forced to make fast to another large 

 iceberg, where a small part of the surface of the 

 water was free from ice. 



May 1st, In the morning, about twelve or one 

 o'clock, the Garland was put upon the main-top- 

 gallant stay by the last married man, as is usual 

 among the Greenland ships. It is formed by the 

 crossing of three small hoops in the form of a 

 globe, and is covered with ribbons, &c. The 

 crew on this occasion blacken their faces with 

 a mixture of grease and soot, and dance round 

 the decks, their chief musical instruments being 

 frying-pans, mess-kettles, fire-irons, &c. This 

 rough mode of festivity they continued till the 

 Captain ordered them a plentiful allowance of 

 grog. After regaling themselves with the very 

 acceptable donation of their commander, they 

 washed themselves, and began to coil away the 

 boat lines, and prepare for the fishing. In every 

 boat there is a line, 720 fathoms long, to the end 

 of which is fixed a harpoon about eight feet five 



D 



