AECTIC VOYAGES. 
173 
was lying on the ice, but, although wounded, he dived down his hole, 
which was close by. About 2 p. m. the ice began to thicken and be much 
closer as we neared the land, and by 3 p. m. we were completely hemmed 
in, and made fast to a berg, a larger one than yesterday’s; three anchors 
made us fast, and again fresh water was obtained, and the dogs embraced 
the opportunity to take a scamper and enjoy themselves. Captain 
Young, Petersen, and I went out in a boat in the direction of the glacier, 
taking plenty of ammunition with us; we pulled to within a mile of the 
glacier. There was no bird to be seen; a death-like stillness—no so arid, 
no voice' was heard, save that of the glacier, at times, cracking like 
thunder, and a huge iceberg thrown off, causing a roar which extended 
for miles round. The constant motion of the glacier, edged as it was 
by icebergs, forbade our nearer approach, and after a vain look-out for 
seals, or bears, or birds, we returned to the ship, disappointed sportsmen. 
I noticed the water appearing on surface as if oil had been poured on 
it, caused by the fresh water (which I tasted) floating some inches thick 
on the surface of the salt. In the evening the dogs scampered about 
over the berg, when one, more venturesome than the rest, approached 
too near the slippery edge, and, unable to stop himself, slid over the 
edge into the water, a fall of fifty feet, his companions all rushing down 
pell-mell to the ship, howling most distressfully, completely puzzling the 
quarter-master on duty, till he espied the unfortunate floating to leeward 
on a piece of ice he had gained; a boat being sent to the rescue, he was 
secured. This day was even finer than yesterday, the sun shining most 
brilliantly, whilst the lesser light is also apparent; no twilight here— 
now, at 12 p. m., I yet see the sun above the horizon. All is calm; no 
sound to be heard except the playful cry of the dogs on the berg as they 
sport among themselves. At present Melville Bay is a pleasant place, 
but rather dangerous, as it is here that oftentimes the whalers get nipped. 
Before anchoring we passed inside the line of Browne’s Island; our boat 
is the only European one which has been so close to the glacier. 
“ 13th. This day has been very fine, but marked by nothing of interest; 
we remained all day fast to the berg, no sufficient opening being appa¬ 
rent. To-day I picked up some pebbles and water-worn specimens off 
an iceberg, composed of gneiss, quartz, and granite; the berg had evi¬ 
dently been turned upside down, or rather, base upwards. About 6.30 
p. m. we got up steam and proceeded S.W., but only advanced about 
three miles, as the ice was too close and thick; we made fast to a berg 
at 9p. m. A boat went out in pursuit of seals, but none were seen ; but 
one dovekie was shot. The evening was beautiful, so calm and quiet; 
sun visible at 12 p. m. 
“ 14th. This has been a most splendid day, the finest I have yet seen 
—not a breath of air, and the sun beaming down in full force; scarcely 
a living thing to be seen. I measured the height of the berg by means 
of the aneroid, and found it eighty-seven feet. The deep-sea thermome¬ 
tric apparatus was lowered, and water brought up from different depths. 
Temperature at 114 fathoms, 30-0; sp. gr. 1028 ; at 50 fathoms, tem¬ 
perature, 29*5 ; sp. gr. 1025 ; at 25 fathoms, temperature, 3T5; sp. gr. 
VOL. v.— kev. 2 c 
