STRONG NORTH EASTERLY CURRENT. 163 



interminable ice-field extending all the way to 

 the Pole. 



Several square miles of this ice became 

 detached, and gradually broke up into frag- 

 ments during the night ; and on proceeding to 

 hunt next morning, my boat got beset in such 

 quantities of it that we lost great part of the 

 day in extricating her. Upon such occasions we 

 often have to get out, and drag the boat over 

 large pieces of ice which " stop the way ; " and 

 as the boats are not only heavy in themselves, 

 but additionally so on account of the number 

 of indispensable articles we are obliged to 

 carry, this becomes very severe work when 

 these "portages" are of long or frequent oc- 

 currence. 



The greater part of this ice was out of sight 

 before night, owing to the strong current 

 which runs from the north-east on this part of 

 the coast ; this current has perceptibly increased 

 in strength since we came to Spitzbergen, and 

 may now be running at three miles an hour. 



When sailing at some miles from the land it 

 is very difiicult to realise the existence of such 

 a current, for vessel and boats and floating ice 

 all go along together, and it is only on ap- 

 proaching any of the large grounded icebergs 



M 2 



