Viewing page 41 of 88

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

[[across double page]] July 30 1860 [[/across double page]]

lying on the northerly sides mostly; while opposite from new Cape Waleingham down to Cape Mercy the land was nearly all covered with snow. But these are not the only cases. So far thus up the East side of Greenland & that of the West side of Norway - Take also Fox Channel. The ^[[insertion]] Coast of [[/insertion]] Westland, we know to be much troubled with the drifting ice, while from the testimony of ^[[insertion]] "North West [[strikethrough]] [[?]][[/strikethrough]] Fox", Baffin & Parry the East side is free. After leaving Holsteinborg, [[strikethrough]] THe Water, Ice & [[/strikethrough]] [[insertion]] I found the Ice-bergs [[strikethrough]] are [[/strikethrough]] very numerous on the West side of Davis Strait, while on the E. side I only saw one. [[strikethrough]] [[?]] [[/strikethrough]] Gov. Elbery informed me that rarely was ice or Icebergs to be seen in the channel passing Holsteinborg. We know that the waters on the East side are navigable nearly all the year round up to Holsteinborg, while but a short season are those of the W. side.
Capt. Buddington & his 1st officer. Mate Rogers, are almost astounded to find that there is [[underlined]] no ice [[/underlined]], save an occasional "straggler" in the shape of an Ice-berg!
[[end page]]
[[start page]]
They acknowledged to me to-day when half way across the Sound that never in all their experiences have see the like as to freedom of the routes from ice.
Capt. Buddington told me had been up here when the whole Inlet was one [[strikethrough]] solid [[/strikethrough]] mass of ice - & more that the ice extended Southward & Eastward over 200 miles.
In 1855 Capt. B. made a voyage here in the Georgiann  He took the ice 5th day of year Long. 55°W Lat 65-40N & reached Scurvy Bay in Oct.
Got out of the ice Aug 1856. Was in the ice thus 14 months - During this time did not see water enough to float a decent size fleet!  And now [[underlined]] NO ICE [[/underlined]] except few bergs!

About 9 O'Clock the cry of "Sail-O!" was heard in the "George Henry":  I looked out to the west & near the West side Northumberland Inlet saw a Barque under all sail

Transcription Notes:
Elbery -name-checked