THE WHITE WORLD 



higher bluffs, and these again by a gradual slope upward 

 to a height of about two hundred and fifty feet or more, 

 after which comes a slight decline followed by a still higher 

 slope. The bluffs are composed of ice, in some places fifty 

 feet thick, loose light soil, and tough blue clay in various 

 proportions. On the high grounds solid ice was found 

 about a foot below the surface; little pools of very good 

 ice water were numerous. Service berries, salmon berries, 

 and blueberries were abundant. Frozen peat was found 

 immediately covering the ice. Lichens are very abundant 

 and there are some flowers. Numerous ravines are well 

 wooded with alder, willow, birch, etc. Grouse were seen 

 in the undergrowth. Traces of wolves and bear were 

 frequent. We found trees as much as seven feet high 

 and three inches in diameter growing freely where there 

 was little more than a foot of soil covering the solid ice. 



The smell of these ice cliffs resembles that of a stable 

 or something worse. Mr. Dall boxed some of the richest 

 of the odoriferous substances. We found a good many 

 valuable bones. Beluga skulls were also found on the 

 beach. I saw geese, eider, a fine raven, and many gulls. 

 Shot two widgeons, a white-winged gull, a turnstone, and 

 a very pretty hawk. Found plenty of small sticklebacks in 

 the brackish lagoons near Elephant Point. 



Friday, September 3 



Early in the morning we left Choris Peninsula with a 

 fair wind, and ran along as far as Cape Espenberg and a 

 little beyond, when the wind fluctuated and died away. 

 Air at 10.30 P. M. 41 °. The coast in the vicinity of Cape 

 Espenberg is low and apparently lumpy. 



Saturday, September 4 



Air at 8 P. M. 41^°. Some rain and disagreeable sea in 

 the forenoon. Murres and Rodgers' fulmar abundant. 

 The water is quite phosphorescent to-night, and as we 

 plunge through it, impelled by a ten-knot breeze, wide 

 swaths of pale glowing light are on either hand and be- 

 hind us. 



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