90 
A VOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEN. 
sufficiently high to admit of the existence of the 
wood-boring teredos , such as are found in timber used 
in ships, marine structures, and driftwood floating on 
or near the surface. Caught at last in some ocean 
current, the wood is drifted westwards, and at length 
finds a resting-place on this desolate coast. These 
sea-worms cannot live in the Arctic seas, and the 
driftwood, perforated in every direction with their 
little tunnels, has long since been rendered tenantless. 
As we came near our landing-place, at four o'clock 
in the Arctic morning, we found that the men during, 
our absence had collected a quantity of dry wood* 
and, setting fire to it, were busily engaged in spreading 
a comfortable repast for us after our wanderings ; here 
we found the comfortable odour of coffee diffusing 
itself over the other good things laid out for our 
entertainment. It was with no small satisfaction we 
once more took our places on board our boats, since 
landing at Jan Mayen is not considered at all times 
safe. Frequently a sudden gale springs up unex¬ 
pectedly, and people coming for a few hours are often 
detained a week on the shore, waiting for a chance of 
escape, and we were well aware of this fact, as the 
stores provided for the trip we had just made, were 
intended for an emergency of the kind. 
The wind had not shifted during our short stay. 
