July, 1858. THE WHALERS AGAIN. 147 



sort of magic-lantern representation of the past, 

 the present, and the future, and resists for weary 

 hours the necessary repose. 



11th. — Last night's calm has allowed the 

 pack to expand so much, that to-day we have 

 steamed through it until within three miles of 

 the noble cliffs of Cape Hay ; and now we are 

 drifting eastward with the ice precisely as did 

 the ' Enterprise ' and ' Investigator ' in Septem- 

 ber, '49, Upon that occasion we were set free 

 off Pond's Bay. There is a very extensive 

 loomery at Cape Hay ; we regret the circum- 

 stances which prevent our levying a tax upon 

 it. Here, if anywhere, I expected to find a 

 clear sea, but east winds have prevailed for 

 twenty days out of the last twenty-five, and 

 this accounts for the present state of the sea; 

 the next succession of west winds will probably 

 effect a prodigious clearance of ice. 



2\8t. — The 'Tay' was seen to-day in loose 

 ice, and much further off the land. She gra- 

 dually steamed through it to the southward, 

 and by night was almost out of sight. Her 

 appearance surprised us, as we supposed she 

 must have reached Pond's Bay long ago. Ten 

 hours' struggling with steam and sails at the 

 most favourable intervals has only advanced 

 us five miles. The weather is remarkably warm, 



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