APPENDIX NO. V. 
337 
appearances, a fair prospect of making land in two days more. We 
have advanced about ten or twelve miles. The wind is east, and 
weather cloudy. All our fuel is expended. 
October 5, Wednesday.—Started about 7 A.M.; but, as I lost my watch- 
key, we could only guess the time by the sun. About 11 a.m. we 
came to an almost impenetrable mass of bergs, and were soon stopped 
by an open crack running nearly B. and W. for several miles in each 
direction from our position. It was about thirty fathoms wide. We 
sent parties out to seek a crossing; but, finding it was a tide-crack 
extending probably many miles, we concluded to await the turn of the 
tide, which would close it. On the opposite side wo could discern 
nothing but high icebergs with narrow passages between them choked 
up by hummocks and squeezed ice. Finding it impossible to make 
land to tho eastward, we attempted to cross to the westward; but, seeing 
no change in the appearance of the ice, we pitched our tent and turned 
in, as it was near sunset. We begin to fear we shall be obliged to 
return to the other side of the glacier, owing to the bad appearance 
of tho ice; besides, as the men are growing weaker, and are still 
affected with cramp, they are less able to draw the sledge over the in¬ 
creasing difficulties of the way. With all our toil, we made this day 
but eight miles in a straight line. 
October 6, Thursday.—The crack closed last night. To-day we rose 
early, crossed it about 6 A.M., and commenced forcing our way among 
hummocks and squeezed ice. After twisting about among the bergs 
for two or three hours and advancing only about a mile, we came to a 
full stop; and, as we found it impossible to proceed, we left the sledge. 
Five of the party started on foot through the ravines between the 
bergs, crossed three more cracks, but found great difficulty in walking, 
on account of the broken character of the ice. After travelling about 
two miles through the gorges we ascended to the top of an iceberg, 
whence a desolate scene burst upon our view. Before us, at the dis¬ 
tance of twenty-five or thirty miles, the land, which runs about 
W.N.W. and E S.E., assumed the character of the coast near Cape 
Frederick VII. ;* but between us and the land was a solid mass of 
bergs having narrow passages between them similar to those we had 
just passed through. In taking the bearings of the most prominent 
points with the sextant, I froze my fingers severely. Finding it im¬ 
possible to progress farther in our course toward the land, we turned 
* This name was applied by ray prodecessor to a supposed capo. Wo retained 
tho narao daring our early parties for a largo headland in lat. 78° 55’8', long. 
88° 50'.—E. K. K. 
Vor. II.—22 
