FROM THE SAXON'S LOG 381 



31st. — Moved up northwards for some six or seven miles, and then, 

 sighting nine deer, landed. I secured one. 



August 1st. — Blowing hard. Had hoped to get away, but the weather 

 was too bad. 



2nd and 3rd. — Still blowing hard. Remained at our anchorage. 



4th. — Wind moderated. Got away for Kolguev early, and at 9 p.m. 

 sighted land. 



5//Z. — Anchored at 4 a.m. somewhere it seemed off the Baroshika 

 river, and about four or five miles out in six fathoms. Later on moved 

 in nearer till the soundings showed four fathoms. Then I went off in 

 the cutter to try and land, but could not, owing to the sand-banks, 

 which were separated from the coast by a stretch of open water. During 

 the day we cruised up and down trying to find an entrance. As we 

 could not find one, I returned to the ship and we again followed along 

 the sand-banks. At 10.30 p.m. ice was reported to seaward, drifting in 

 towards land. We edged nearer in, proceeding very cautiously, as the 

 soundings rapidly lessened from eight to six fathoms of water. At last 

 we were compelled to turn back because the ice began setting towards 

 the land. ' If we go on we shall be wedged between ice and sand-banks ; 

 if to seaward, get stuck in the ice ; if to landward, on a sand-bank.' 



6th. — Having retraced our way we rounded the north of the island, 

 and anchored off the Gusina river at 10 a.m. From then up to 2 a.m. 

 ice was constantly reported to seaward. I went ashore and found two 

 notes buried there in a tin by Trevor-Battye. In one of these he said 

 that he and Hyland, having found the Samoyeds, are going across to 

 Scharok harbour. We believed this to be the point from which we 

 were driven away the night before by the incoming ice. With the wind 

 E. by N. it would now probably be blocked with ice, and therefore 

 impossible to enter. 



I therefore decided to go back to Vardo. 



1th and 8th. — Dense fog nearly all the time. Got into Vardo on the 

 morning of the 8th. 



gfh and 10th. — Blowing hard. 



13M. — Tromso. 



21st. — Peterhead. 



