XIII.] 
PRONTSCHISCHEV’S VOYAGE. 
189 
which swarmed round the vessel in that region. The bay was 
covered with fast ice, '' which probably never breaks up,” and 
broad ice-fields stretched out to sea from the coast, on which 
Polar bears were seen. 
On the August, in 77° 29' N.L., the vessel was suddenly 
surrounded with so large masses of ice that it could make no 
further progress, and was every instant in danger of being 
nipped. Prontschischev therefore determined to turn, but this 
at first was rendered impossible by a complete calm, a crust of 
ice being formed at the same time in open places between the 
pieces of drift-ice. If the latitude stated is correct, the turning 
point lay quite close to the northernmost promontory of Asia. 
With a better vessel, and above all with the help of steam, 
Prontschischev would certainly have rounded it. The unbroken 
ice which he mentioned several times in his narrative, ought 
probably to be interpreted as belts of pretty closely packed 
drift-ice. Many times during my Arctic voyages have I sailed 
through belts of ice which, when observed from a boat some 
hundred yards from their borders, have been reported as 
immense unbroken ice-fields. On the a high north wind 
began to blow which drove the vessel, with the surrounding 
ice-fields, towards the south. The voyagers had doubts as to 
their being saved, but the gusts of wind broke up the ice so 
that the vessel got free and could sail to the mouth of the 
Chatanga, which, however, was already frozen over. The ex¬ 
plorers were therefore compelled to continue their voyage 
towards the Olenek, whose mouth was reached on the 
In the neighbourhood of the haven which they intended to 
make, they were driven about by contrary winds and drift-ice 
about six days more, exposed to cold and wet, and worn out by 
exertions and privations of every description. Prontschischev, 
who before had been sick, died of his illness on the au^; 
to the great sorrow of his men, by whom he was held in great 
regard. The mate, Chfjlyuskin, now took the command. On 
