Elisha Kent Kane Diary

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coast in a black iron mould. I could then see it with almost fairy [glisten?] pour itself into the dark shadow of the fiord now it ran over the rocks itself a line of blackness and tehy, the rocks, stark and sundried as white as the baked adobos of a Mexican hut.

The cause of the very sudden ad= vent of the snow streams is very simple. During the month of June all areas of similar enfixture are equally heated and the snow reduced to the melting point yeilds its water to ^a shallow but still^ an absorbing soil. As this process of infiltration goes on the crust is gradually saturated until it reaches the frozen stratum below. Here its further descent is arrested and the surface begins to shed its surplus water which gradually uniting as they follow the undulations of the [?] find their way early simultaneously to the previously worn channels. ON the 29. June the first frond discharged and on the 30th two others. Now the entire circuit of the bay sends down its streams t the ice foot.

Our meagre fall of snow will I fear prevent these streams from aiding the destruction of our floe ice.

[Margin] Monday July 3d

Was awakened at 1/2 past six by te return of Morton and Hans our sturdy little Esquimaux. Successful!!

I ought to be very thankful for th e success of our party for there have been times when hope was low and I looked forward to failure. Never never thank God has there been a time that fresh effort

have not been made to replace old failures and now in spite of the lockjawed dogs and the dead and the crippled and the ship [?] [?] - I can say that I have led an expectations whose [?] will be remembered for all time - ie - until Morton had enabled me to completely [?] [?] [?] - to discover the expected Channel to enter its waters and after nobel [?] to discover the mysterious Nor= =thern Sea. His farther point deep [?] in Lat (82.07) 2 degrees. 07 N.

The dogs are worth in feet and hand thinned down to a meagre man. Morton is reduced but still himself. They had many escaped and are now to tired out that I postpone their report until tomorrow.

[Tues july 4]

This day one year ago we were at [?Location] I was then behind time, har= =rassed by [?] and looking forward with doubt to my future success. My party [?] in a crude undisciplined state and as observed had to be [?] [?] Every thing had to be made from raw materials. The very outfit had [?] [?]. We have now been absent 13 months and what a period of change and actions it has been! The [?] are grilled and as far as meer [?] goes our accumulated obser= =vations are certainly equal to any preceding expedition no matter what its organization. Our sufferings have been relieved by a newly discovered [?] line which exceeds any preceding expedition since the days of Parry

on this day the brig was dressed in the full suit of colours. the flag presented to me in New York and which was [?]

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[saidest] to Commemorate the clearing of the Hurlgate Channel (Port-sock) beard the name of Henry Grinnell. Whose [meant] effected this great Commercial benefit. It now floats at one [snaiso]

We dealt out of our [seanty] stack now reduced to five bottles a glass of spirit to the Crew and find a general inspection a little scury is again [aimed] at but except weakened. We are doing well.

I returned yesterday the Command of the [lnj] which during my absence and the [Condequest] duties of directing the lands journey. I had confided to Mr Ohlden one Carpenter. The immediate cause of this was the conduct of the incumbent. I fear that he is with all had good qualities nor a reliable man. Upon several occasions I observed a manner which made me watchful a manner of extreme conciliation to the Crew and [subsernied] to myself which had not before exitted. On one occasion he was holding a familiar conversation with one of the men who stood forward nor a being on the quarter deck and I beside him. He was told to order the men not to allow to officiet but to address them if neccessary in person an intimation which was received with disrespectful violence of words and manner. He resigned in a half threatning way his charge which I accepted immediately to deny him to continue his duties as executive until relieved. When cool he appeared in this old manner of conceliation appears. Sorry for the event but upon the return of [morton] it was rendered upon my ordering sleepers accomodations which morton had

33 previously held to be continued. This latter outbreak opened my eyes. It was in the fore castle where I was posting out to him to place for the ordered bunk. I declined and weiry except in the presence of witnessed and ordered him to the quarter deck where in presence of Mr. Brooks. I explained the proceeding and wrote a letter resuming the charge of the lnj and placing Mr. Ohlder until retrieved in the place of Mr. Brooks. This is a wide step and the circumstances which caused it will be a lesson to me I have spoiled this man by kindness by deferring to and inviting his opinions as to mattered unconnected with his capacity on board. I have now curtail my intercourse with him and confine it to matters of duty.

It is very hard to a mom like myself of a kindly hustling nature to find that neither kindness nor truth will access with the position of command. It is still more painful to find a man able and intelligent and well recommended, who had shown fidelity & supported attachment - give evidence of hairs which make me guarded and watchful. The present period of the cruise required on my part the greatest circumspertion. The doubts as to the [suplier?] of the ice, the impatience of disease, and long confinement among the men calls for all my tact and I need on the part of my forward officers the fullest support and fidelity.

Sent Messy Bondale & Paleiten to impact the ice to [sel?]. Ofcanned a nest fo the female King duck with four of the very rarely found eggs of that bird. She was short on one of the inland boats by the banks of which was the next from which she had been disturbed.

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Morton left the Inj on the the 4th of June and worked along with the gallant little party of fire until their course has arrested by the great glacier.

Here they found the final cache consisting of G S U its of Peruvian utter -ly destroyed by beard. Even the beacons were torn down and every thing even to shreads of Canvass decoursed. Four days were spent after this catastrophie in attempting the ascent of the glacier but is violent comsur-tion and constant discharges preven-ted a nearer approach than two hun-dred yards.

On the 18th they were joined by Hand and the dogs with full written instructional ad to their course - fortunately one and the only metallic case of Peruvian had resisted the beard and some head slowed high among the cliffs had escaped - with this trusting to their fund for dog meat - they started across the Bay.

Their labour I can only allude to : they passed the [nunmiseks?] and after one retrograde movement - caused by a labyrinthine mass of bergs - reached the lamination of the glacier - It entered a land belonging equally to Greenland and America after a course of miles in a direction.

Thoughout all By the route which I had attempted in person but failed owing to the breaking down of myself and three of the party - as well as the destruction of the Peruvians. This last would have prevented any transit of the Bay except as new divided by [Woyd's?]