32 Collisions with the Ice. 



the vibration imparted to the rigging by the motions 

 of the men. 



At nine, mo*re ice was observed ahead, and we 

 were soon in another straggling stream ; but, as it 

 was daylight, we were enabled, though not without 

 keeping a sharp look-out, to avoid coming into 

 contact with the heavier pieces. It was a glorious 

 and novel sight to me, seeing these floating masses 

 of ice, some of them assuming the most picturesque 

 and fantastic forms, many being of a bright blue 

 colour. Soon the quick eyes of our captain dis- 

 covered a huge seal lying on the top of one of these 

 ice islands, dreamily looking at us, in wondering 

 surprise, as we approached. Poor brute ! a bullet 

 from my rifle (the captain having deputed me to 

 shed the first blood of the cruise) terminated its 

 existence ; a boat was lowered, and the monster 

 brought on board. Others were now observed, and 

 four boats were despatched to effect their capture, 

 in one of which I went. Directly a seal was shot, 

 we would at once pull in to the ice on which it was 

 lying, and I was surprised at the marvellous rapidity 

 and dexterity with which our men would skin, or, as 

 it is termed, " flinch " the beast. I had the curi- 

 osity to time a couple of men whilst performing 

 this operation on a large seal. It was actually 

 " flinched/' and the skin thrown into the boat, in 

 fifty- eight seconds ! We were away in the boats 

 about a couple of hours, during which time we 



