148 OFF CAPE WALTER BATHURST. Chap. IX. 



briglit, and pleasant. A very large bear came 

 within 150 yards, and was sliot by Petersen, the 

 Minie bullet passing through his body. This 

 beast measured 8 ft. 3 in. in length ; his fat 

 carcase was hoisted on board with great satis- 

 faction, as our dogs' food was nearly expended. 



24:th. — Last night the ice became slack enough 

 to afford some prospect of release, so we charged 

 the nips vigorously, and steamed away through 

 devious openings towards Cape Fanshawe. For 

 several hours but little progress was made, but 

 this morning the ice became more open ; clear 

 water was seen ahead, and reached by noon. 

 Although it is calm I prefer waiting for a breeze 

 to expending more coals. We are only ten 

 miles from Possession Bay. The air is so very 

 clear that the land appears quite close to us. 

 All that is not mountainous is well cleared of 

 snow. There is immense refraction. Only a 

 single iceberg in sight. The sea-water is light 

 green, as remarked by Parry in 1819. 



IQtli. — A vessel was seen yesterday morning; 

 the day continuing calm, we steamed through 

 some loose ice, and joined her off Cape Walter 

 Bathurst in the evening. It proved to be the 

 'Diana;' she parted from us on the 16th of 

 June in Melville Bay, has everywhere been ob- 

 structed by the pack, as we have been, and only 



