116 STOPPED BY THE ICE, Chap. VII. 



motlier, is strong proof of tlie sincerity of Lis 

 engagement, not only to his lady love, but to 

 the ' Fox ' also. 



I have written to the Admiralty to account 

 for my prolonged absence from England ; and 

 to Dr. Eink to acquaint him with the cause of 

 my second visit to his inspectorate. 



Governor Elberg has promised to get me 

 some fossil fish, to be found only in North 

 Strom Fiord : they are interesting, as being of 

 unknown geological date. 



10th. — On the morning of the 8th we left 

 Holsteinborg with a pleasant land wind and 

 bright weather. When 15 miles off shore we 

 were stopped by ice formed during the last two 

 nights, the thermometer having fallen to 12°; 

 out in the offing the weather was gloomy and 

 cold, and strong northerly winds were blowing. 

 On closing the land again, we regained the off- 

 shore wind, and bright weather. 



Keeping close alongshore, and threading our 

 way through a vast deal of " pack-" and nume- 

 rous icebergs, we gained sight of Disco about 

 noon to-day, and by the evening were within an 

 hour's sail of Godhavn, when we were again 

 stopped by a broad belt of ice stretching along 

 the coast ; this was a bitter disappointment, more 

 particularly as a gale of wind with heavy sea 



