98 Ice Anchors. 



islands, had volunteered to lead the way, until 

 shortly after 7 p.m., when a thick fog overtaking- 

 us, compelled us to stop, each ship making fast 

 with three ice-anchors to some land-ice in a bay of 

 one of these islands. 



We were within half a mile of the shore, whose 

 precipitous cliffs rose up to a height of eight hun- 

 dred or one thousand feet. 



The ice on which the men had to step to get the 

 anchors to the fixed ice beyond was of a very soft 

 and treacherous nature, and many were the im- 

 mersions that took place whilst carrying out the 

 necessary duties of securing the ship. A dip in 

 the water with the temperature two or three degrees 

 below the freezing point is no joke ; yet all laughed 

 heartily when an unfortunate individual went 

 through, and even the victim himself, putting the 

 best face on the matter, seemed to enjoy the fun as 

 much as any one. 



In leaving Upernivik, we quite bid farewell to 

 the outward world. It is the last place at which 

 we have an opportunity of leaving letters for Eng- 

 land, and, with the exception of occasionally meet- 

 ing a whaler, it is the last place at which we shall 

 see and converse with civilized beings. 



Upernivik is the most northern settlement of any 

 importance on the coast of Greenland, and is in 

 fact the emporium of all the others in its vicinity. 

 Tesuisok, Kingitok, and Susak, are the only ones to 



