Jan. 1859. INTENSE COLD. 219 



and a ptarmigan were seen : yesterday I saw- 

 three ptarmigan. December proved to be an 

 unusually cold month, its mean temperature 

 being —33°; and it was rendered more than 

 ordinarily dark and gloomy by continual mists 

 from Bellot Strait. This open water adds se- 

 riously to the drawbacks of a spot already suffi- 

 ciently cheerless, gameless, and " wind-loved." 



2th. — Another week of uniform temperature 

 of — 40°, and confinement to the ship by strong 

 winds ; the atmosphere is loaded with enveloping 

 mists which impart a raw and surprisingly keen 

 edge to the chilling blasts, blasts that no human 

 nose can endure without blanching, be its pro- 

 portions what they may. It is wonderful how 

 the dogs stand it, and without apparent incon- 

 venience, unless their fur happen to be thin. 

 They lie upon the snow under the lee of the 

 ship, with no other protection from the wea- 

 ther. 



To-day, the winds being light and tempera- 

 ture up to — 30°, we enjoyed walks on shore, 

 although the mist continued so dense as to limit 

 our view to a couple of hundred yards. 



I learn from Petersen that the natives of 

 Smith's Sound are well acquainted with the 

 continuation of its shores considerably beyond 

 the farthest point reached by Kane's exploring 



