July, 1857. SPITZBERGEN ICE. 17 



that place in order to catcli this homeward- 

 bound ship. 



It was necessary to push through the Spitz- 

 bergen ice, and we fortunately succeeded in 

 doing so after eighteen hours of buffeting with 

 this formidable enemy ; at first we found it 

 tolerably loose, and the wind being strong 

 and favourable, we thumped along pleasantly 

 enough; but as we advanced, the ice became 

 much more closely packed, a thick fog came on, 

 and many hard knocks were exchanged ; at 

 length our steam carried us through into the 

 broad belt of clear water between the ice and 

 land, which Petersen assured me always exists 

 here at this season. 



The dense fog now prevented further pro- 

 gress, and as evening closed in I gave up all 

 hope of improvement for the night, when sud- 

 denly the fog rolled back upon the land, disclos- 

 ing some islets close to us, then the rugged 

 points of mainland, and at length, lifting alto- 

 gether, the distant snowy mountain - peaks 

 against a deep blue sky. 



The evening became bright and dehghtful; 

 the whole extent of coast was fringed with in- 

 numerable islets, backed by lofty mountains, and, 

 being richly tinted by a glorious western sun, 

 formed an unusually splendid sight. Greenland 



