172 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
we got up steam, steering to eastward, and about 2 p.m. got clear of 
pack, and lowered steam, steering to the south-east, running along the 
edge of the pack to try and find an opening in it. Bergs in great num¬ 
bers passed us to-day; at midnight the pack on the lee beam still pre¬ 
senting an impassable barrier. 
“ 9th. Still steering along edge of pack towards north-east. Land 
was seen in the evening, passing through sailing ice. In the evening 
rain commenced, and thick fog. Divine service as usual. In the after¬ 
noon mounted to the ‘ crow’s nest,’ and there remained for some time, in 
vain looking out for a ‘ lead.’ 
“ 10th. In the morning ‘Devil’s Thumb’ in sight; "Wilcox Head and 
the glacier well seen, though at a great distance, passing many bergs. At 
11 a. m. made steam, passing through sailing ice and bergs; the steam 
was discontinued in the afternoon, and the wind sent us along at a mo¬ 
derate rate. The ice pack remarkably close and dense; towards evening 
the fog came on very thick, only occasionally lifting, whilst we came 
whack off the floes as they passed us. We are now up in Melville Bay; 
some large and heavy bergs alongside of us. At lip. m. stuck fast in 
the ice and fastened to the floe alongside. 
“ 11th. Early in the morning got under weigh again; about 6 a. m. 
strained our rudder-head by a squeeze from the ice; 10 a. m., still 
plunging through the ice, the force of the collisions causing the ship to 
quiver from stem to stern. Last night there was a sudden decrease in 
the specific gravity of the water, due to the abundance of bergs and the 
proximity of the glacier. This morning the glacier was very evident, 
running for many miles along the coast, fringed along its edge by many 
bergs. At noon hauled alongside a large iceberg, and anchored by three 
ice anchors, there being no lead ahead. This berg was a large one. I 
minutely examined its surface, but there were no boulders or other ex¬ 
traneous matter present. The opportunity was taken to fill some of our 
tanks with fresh water, which was plentifully obtained off the top of the 
berg, a pond having been formed by the melting of the ice by the heat 
of the sun. At 3p.i,a seal was shot by Captain Young, and it was 
captured; small shrimps filled its stomach. Several others appeared 
afterwards, but not sufficiently near to get a shot. Some mollymokes, 
an ivory gull, and one loom, were shot. It has been a most splendid day, 
the sun shining brilliantly, reflected from floe and berg and glacier; the 
sea so calm, the sea-birds flying around us, all combined to make a 
splendid sight. We all wished so much that our home friends could 
but come out and spend the day with us, in order to form an idea of an 
Arctic summer’s day. The sea deep blue, the berg a snowy white, the 
sky a light blue, rendered it all but perfect. All we wanted were the 
green fields and the twitting birds, for our birds sing not. We intend 
to remain all night, as there is not sufficient ice cleared away to let us 
proceed. 
“ 12th. This morning, about 7.30, we got up steam and hoved our 
anchors, and left our friendly berg, steaming in the direction of a lead. 
We continue our progress, occasionally coming in contact with pieces of 
the pack. At 1 p. m. we rounded to, in order to fire at a large seal which 
