e most part with bogs and marshes. The 17th
came in with mist and considerable warmth. The mist limited
the circle of vision to a distance of some few metres, and
the high temperature in a short time destroyed the crust
which had been formed in the course of the preceding night
on the surface of the snow, and melted the layers of snow
which still covered the northern slopes of these two hills.
The southern slopes on the other hand were almost quite
bare, and the valleys began to be filled with water. Four
or five days as warm as these and I believe there scarcely
would be any snow remaining round Kolyutschin Bay. The
illusions caused by the white fog illuminated by the
sunlight were very astonishing. Every small spot of ground
appeared as an extensive snow-free field, every tuft of
grass as a bush, and a fox in our immediate neighbourhood
was for a moment taken for a gigantic bear. Besides, during
such a fog the action of the sunlight on the eyes was
exceedingly painful even in the case of those who carried
preservers. During the return Rotschitlen lost his way in
consequence of the numerous different tracks. Fortunately I
had observed how we travelled, and could with the help of
the compass pilot our two small craft to a good haven. On
the 17th of June at 1.30 P.M. we were again in good
condition on board the _Vega_."

In the society on board the prospects of an alteration in the
constant north winds, the perpetual snow-storms and the unceasing
cold, and the hope of a speedy release from the fetters of the ice,
were naturally constantly recurring topics of conversation. During
this time many lively word-battles were fought between the weather
prophets in the gunroom, and many bets made in jest between the
optimists and pessimists. The former won a great victory, when at
noon on the 8th February the temperature lose to + 0.1 deg. C.,
but with the exception of this success fortune always went against
them. The north wind, the drifting snow and the cold, would never
cease. A blue water-sky indeed was often visible at the horizon to
the north and north-east, but the "clearing" first reached our
vessel a couple of hours before we left our winter haven for ever,
and up to the 15th June the thickness of the ice was almost
undiminished (1-1/2 metre) The sun rose higher and higher, but
without forming any crust upon the snow, although