Page:The open Polar Sea- a narrative of a voyage of discovery towards the North pole, in the schooner "United States" (IA openpolarseanarr1867haye).pdf/445



June 25th.

A rainy day for a novelty. Nearly an inch of water has fallen already, and it still continues to patter upon the deck. I was out completing my geological collections when the shower began, and not only got thoroughly soaked, but had like to have got killed into the bargain; for, in attempting to cross a small glacier which lay on the side of a hill, my feet flew up in consequence of the water making it more slippery, and I slid down over the ice and the stones which stuck up through it, and was finally landed among the rocks below with many bruises and not much clothing.

The thermometer has stood at 48°, and the continuance of the warmth since the 20th, together with this "gentle rain from heaven," is telling upon the ice. It is getting very rotten, and the sea is eating into it rapidly. The "hinge" of the ice-foot is tumbling to pieces, and we have trouble in getting ashore.

June 26th.

Our summer shower has changed its complexion, and the "gentle rain" is converted into hail and snow, quite as unseasonable as it is disagreeable. The white snow with which a fierce wind has bespattered the


 * [Footnote:

31.  Campanula linifolia. 32.  Vaccinium uliginosum. 33.  Andromeda tetragona. 34.  Pyrola chlorantha. 35.  Bartsia Alpina. 36.  Pedicularis Kanei. 37.  Armeria Labradorica. 38.  Polygonum viviparum. 39.  Oxyria didyma. 40.  Empetrum nigrum. 41.  Betula nana. 42.  Salix Arctica. 43.  Salix herbacea. 44.  Luzula (too young). 45.  Carex rigida. 46.  Eriophorum vaginatum. 47.  Alopecurus Alpinus. 48.  Glyceria Arctica. 49.  Poa Arctica. 50.  Poa Alpina. 51.  Hierocloa Alpina. 52.  Festuca ovina. 53.  Lycopodium annotinum. ]