342 
ICE-INSPECTION. 
have described already. I attribute its permanency to 
the almost constant shadow of the mountains near it. 
“August 15, Tuesday.—To-day I made another ice- 
inspection to the N.E. The floe on which I have 
trudged so often, the big bay-floe of our former moor¬ 
ing, is nearly the same as when we left it. I recog¬ 
nised the holes and cracks, through the fog, by a sort 
of instinct. McGary and myself had little difficulty in 
reaching the Fiord Water by our jumping-poles. 
“I have my eye on this water; for it may connect 
with the Northeast Headland and hereafter give us a 
passage. 
“ The season travels on : the young ice grows thicker, 
and my messmates’ faces grow longer, every day. I 
have again to play buffoon to keep up the spirits of 
the party. 
“A raven! The snow-birds begin to fly to the south 
in groups, coming at night to our brig to hover on the 
rigging. Winter is hurrying upon us. The poppies 
are quite wilted. 
“Examined ice with Mr. Bonsall, and determined to 
enter the broken land-ices by warping; not that there 
is the slightest probability of getting through, but it 
affords moral aid and comfort to the men and officers: 
it looks as if we were doing something. 
“August 17, Thursday.—Warped about one hundred 
yards into the trash, and, after a long day of labor, 
have turned in, hoping to recommence at 5 a.m. to¬ 
morrow. 
“In five days the spring-tides come back: should 
