174 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
1024; at surface, temperature, 38*0; sp. gr. 1023. After dinner 
Young and I went out in a boat, endeavouring to get to Browne’s Islands; 
but they were so closely beset with ice and bergs that we could only get 
within one mile of them. Some seals were seen, but beyond ride-shot. 
Whilst we were out, the glacier was groaning and cracking, and some 
bergs vibrating strongly; these noises continued the whole evening. 
Noticed the same appearance of surface-water to-day. After 6 p. m. 
captain commenced magnetic observations, whilst I dug a hole three feet 
deep in the berg to insert a thermometer, leaving it all night—the tem¬ 
perature of the fresh water on the berg which was freezing was 32-2. 
A light wind sprung up about 10 p. m. Two dovekies were shot, 
ninety birds to-day. The sun is just now (midnight) dipping below 
the horizon. 
“ 15 th. This morning I took the thermometer out of the hole in berg, 
and found it 29 T 5 ; temperature of surface, 32T0; sp. gr. of sea water, 
1025. This day was much the same as yesterday, but scarcely so 
pleasant, as the wind began to freshen; this was greatly in our favour, 
whilst it loosened the ice in places, and opened our way. Several seals 
were bred at, but none killed, as they were too far distant. Several 
mollymokes were shot, and kept for dogs’ food. This morning has been 
rather cold, consequent on the wind off the glacier. We hope to move 
early in the morning. 
“ 16th. This morning, at 6.30, we got under weigh, and cast off from 
the berg, the wind having opened a lead; during the day we made con¬ 
siderable progress. Divine service, as usual, held on the lower deck; all 
present but those necessary to work the ship. At 10 a. m. a seaman’s 
chest was picked up, containing some lumber, most likely belonging to 
some of the nipped whalers. We have been passing through drifts and 
young ice all day; large bergs constantly around us. Aumbers of seals 
were seen; one shot, and preserved for the dogs; a few mollymokes also 
were obtained, and the tracks of a bear seen on the snow. We continued 
steadily progressing, sometimes with favourable, other times with con¬ 
trary, winds. The sun shone, and it was very pleasant in the forenoon, 
but in the afternoon and evening it became rather cold, and about 8 p. m. 
a thick fog set in; however, we continued our course for some time, 
until the fog prevented us taking advantage of any lead we might other¬ 
wise have seen, and we had to haul up several times on the edge of the 
doe. At 11 p. m. we got stuck fast in the ice, and anchored for the night. 
Cold, damp, and foggy. 
“ 17th. We remained all night hooked on to the doe, the fog remain¬ 
ing thick the whole time till 10.15 a. m., when we backed out of our 
uncomfortable position by the aid of steam, and continued onwards by 
the most favourable lead, cutting through young ice and passing bergs 
in numbers, whilst occasionally we had a little snow and sometimes a 
favourable wind. In the afternoon, at 5 p. m., we were stopped by a small 
doe connecting two larger ones. We passed a short distance through 
this, but ultimately stopped; and although blasting tins dlled with 
gunpowder were used, we were kept fast. Bight under our bows were 
the recent tracks of a bear. A good fall of snow came on just as we 
