Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1851-01-25

Long JuIV lU 10y art. nor. ng htS ).lJ~ % w
Lat. July % (still in the pack) 1851 N
Long July % co. o. w
Total progress in 20 days S. w. J w. 2lk
miles
PAsTIME.-While we continued thus in
pack, our time did not pass altogether with
out Pastime. We are, on board, harmo-
NOUS little band of brothers. our Captain of
happy temperament and disposed to make
others happy around him. Where variety
failed to enliven US, hard work kept US from
thinking too constantly of failure. White
bears and seals, the latter very numerous,
the former in numbers sufficient to give US no
less than five perilous chases over the ice
fioes, offered US abundant stir and excite
ment. You may ask me hereafter for some
of my adventures and escapes, but write so
slow in this extreme cold, that cannot get
through with what must say if indulge in
episode.
The WEATHER CmANGEs.-At last the
eloquently continued bathos of the barome-
ter, falling by regular decrements, foretold a
change in the weather. On the evening of
the 2Sth, the leads began 10 open, and a
South-Easter hauling around to East drove
us through the foes. Tempting water to the
Northward, to say nothing Of our three weeks
duress, caused a change Of views and of our
course with them; and by the morning OF the
29th water, ice encircled, but nevertheless
water splashed around our bows. 1sssi.a.
A STORM AMONG THE BERGs-The breeze,
however, freshened to a gale. Our course
was toward Melville Bay, little to the West
of North; the Rescue following close in our
wake. Here, again, with the wind roaring
and the shore-swell undulating around us, we
made tongue of feld-ice, garnished with
terrific bergs. Boring into it, we had for
half an hour scene which think would
compare with some of Beechey's Spitzber-
gen splendid Eorribles For a few minutes
that we were in the thick of the thunder
storm of grinding icebergs, and crashing ice
foes, thought that the little brig Advance
and all its freight would render trouble
some task the recall and reunion of its parti-
cles upon the great day when particles gen
orally are needed and mended. Here, again
you may ask me for story in detail, but ]
begin to think already of the meminisse
iurabi when (and if) return safe home
Anchorlng to the great shore ice, in places
ten feet thick, and working along by regu-
lar contest, by the Both we had dragged our
selves well into the moving ice, and were in
the region of the Nips, which are such a
bugbear of the whalers.
DUNIcA BAY.-By the I'd of August we
had still, by constant warping, worked our
selves well toward Dunica Bay Instead of
the snow-covered prairie, interspersed with
black water patches, like uncle Georges
blackbird marsh in skating time, the ice was
here firm, thick and resisting. What little
open water we had, beat against an IRON
bound ice coast. There the foes and hum
mock ridges, packed and driven int, walls
above the foundation ice itself, sometimes IL
and IA feet thick. Marks Ofthe widest COM
motion were everywhere, and effects of up
heaving forces, only to be compared with
the uplifting axes of great geological eras.-
Amidst this fierce wreck and ruin, and above
it all, their effect, heightened by our con-
sciousness of danger near them, rose the
isolated ice mountains-the kingly bergs.-
Some, though not aground, stood as firm as
the land, their huge bulk not seeming to Vi
brate even with the drift of the field ice that
split in scales against their basis; others, as
if driven by an awful will, came drifting
down upon us, crushing and tearing every
thing before them in their way. The height
of some of these was go feet by measure
ment.
l had opportunity here to fill many pages
with conclusive observations upon the ice
movements. My journal will probably show
some exceptions to the received rules with
regard to them. In one case, in this Dunica
Bay, on the night ofthe lst of August, when
the wind was south-easterly, and the current,
as determined by the surface ice, in accord
ance with Capt. Beechey's southwestern
drift, / observed the berg ice making a
northern progress Of one knot and half an
hour, while the foes went off to the south
westward at the rate Of two knots. The sub
mersion Of the berg, and the local influences,
tides, SC. operating upon them, are hardly
sufficient to explain this fact, and it is GER
tainly curious one.
BREAKING THE IcE.--While working
through the almost supernatural congeries
here, one of our ice anchors, attached to a
warping line, and with its hook buried in an
iceberg, with a sudden detonation cleft the
mass asunder, topping into the chasm thus
formed worthy fellow named Costa. The
detached mass would have crushed our brig
had we been trIfe nearer. Luckily, too,
us fracture was 50 cream, tude "hCu u iVSCs
placid as Neptune herself, from the deep, it
lifted up with it poor Costa, free from all
hurt, though nearly scared to death.
We have parted five cables, lost three
anchors, and escaped uncounted drownings
from breaking through the ice. Out of our
little party on board the Advance, there are
but two officers and men included that have
escaped their ducking. The Captain and
myself have each been in twice. On one
occasion had heavy ships musket, sup
piled by the astonishing liberality Of Uncle
Sam under the name Of of"Fowling piece, " as
a ''Life Preserver. Ny only regret is that
saved the musket.
BEARs.-Thus we warped and sailed on,
our hopes lessening every day with our pro-
gress. On the eighth, the Reseaes shot
bear within two hundred yards Of our excited
noses-we had no unoccupied boat. On the
llth, while sailing in misty fog through a
---.oJ loo1 M loSo than hears