172 



ARCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



complete mass of ice. Up to the extent of the bay, running N. 

 N.W. full fifteen miles from its entrance, all was quite a solid 

 pack, much of it five to seven feet thick, though in some parts 

 only from one to three feet. 



The temperature of the sea water at this time was 26°, and the 

 air 18° ; the barometer 29.55, and wind fresh from the west. 



On this day, finding it impossible to any longer use the boats, 

 they were dismantled for the season. Nearly nine months must 

 elapse before they can be used again. 



Sunday, the 25th of November, we had a heavy gale from the 

 eastward, bringing with it a remarkably warm air (the thermom- 

 eter 32°), and breaking up some of the ice in such a manner that 

 at one time we expected to be driven out to sea with it. We 

 were, however, preserved by the pack, in one portion remaining 

 firm, and thus giving us a shelter, though not more than a hund- 

 red yards from where the disruption was taking place. On the 

 1st of December there was a great calm, lasting till the 4th ; but 

 finally, on the 6th of December, we were no longer under any 

 doubt as to being well secured in the solid ice for the winter. In 

 all directions, the harbor and bay were completely frozen over. 



On November 24th I had my first sight of, and encounter with, 

 a polar bear. I was engaged writing in my cabin, when a shout 

 was heard on deck, "A bear! a bear!" and immediately relin- 

 quishing my pen for the rifle, I went up and joined a party who 

 started in chase. 



Sterry and the Esquimaux Ugarng had already gone off to the 

 hunt, and I rapidly followed, accompanied by " Charley," while 

 all the natives that had been on board, and several of the ship's 

 crew, came after us. The bear took a direction near the island 

 where my dogs had been placed, and the howling they made was 

 truly terrible. 



As Charley and I neared one of the outer islands, about half a 

 mile from the ship, bang went the first gun. Then a second re- 

 port, and soon afterward I could see the bear retreating across a 

 channel to another island. He had received some severe wounds, 

 for blood was pouring out on either side of him, crimsoning his 

 white coat and the ice beneath. The channel was covered over 

 with ice that appeared too frail for us to make passage upon. 

 Down through this ice every now and then the bear would plunge. 

 But soon returning to the same hole, he slid himself out of it upon 

 the ice in a very sprawling, but to me interesting manner. Once 



