TREMENDOUS AVALANCHE. 291 



On the fourth, while we were husy on deck 

 making preparations to depart, we saw a tre- 

 mendous avalanche of rocks, ice, and earth 

 descend from the face of a steep mountain 

 three or four miles distant. I should think 

 the mass consisted of several millions of tons, 

 and the terrific roar and splash with which it 

 descended into the sea bafiie all attempts at 

 description. It is fortunate we were not an- 

 chored underneath it at the time. 



We got the two heavy boats in on deck, and 

 secured them firmly in case of bad weather, 

 and made everything else as smig as possible 

 for the return voyage. 



We have some difficulty in stowing the 

 venison, of which 160 fat quarters now en- 

 cumber the deck. At an average of 40 lbs. 

 a-quarter, this amounted to 6400 lbs. or about 

 three tons of meat ; and the yacht being hung 

 round with it in every possible place, it gives 

 her the appearance of a butcher's shop, full 

 of prize oxen, at Christmas. 



Early in the morning of the 5th of Sep- 

 tember we got the anchor up, and bade adieu 

 with profound regret and heart-felt reluctance 

 to the gloomy fiords, and the enchanting ice- 



V 2 



