62 ICE DISTURBANCE. Chap. IV. 



now in my cabin I can distinctly hear the ice 

 crushing ; it resembles the continued roar of dis- 

 tant surf, and there are many other occasional 

 sounds ; some of them remind one of the low- 

 moaning of the wind, others are loud and harsh, 

 as if trains of heavy waggons with ungreased 

 axles were slowly labouring along. Upon a less- 

 favoured night these sounds might be appalling ; 

 even as it is they are sufSciently ominous to in- 

 vite reflection. Cape York has been in sight for 

 some days past. 



2 9 /A. — Another heavenly night, and still 

 greater ice disturbance ; some of the crushed-up 

 pieces are nearly four feet thick. The currents, 

 icebergs, and changes of temperature, may con- 

 tribute to this ice action ; but I think the tides 

 are the chief cause, and for these reasons : that 

 it wants but two days to the full moon, and 

 that the ice-movements are almost confined to 

 the night, and change their direction morning 

 and evening. JTow we know that the night- 

 tides in Greenland greatly exceed the day-tides. 

 One thing is evident — the weather continues 

 calm, therefore the winds are not concerned in 

 the matter. 



2nd Nov. — Having observed some days ago 

 that a few of the dogs were falling away — from 

 some cause or other not having put on their 



