Two bears, a female
and her cub, being probably attracted by the smell of our cooking,
came towards the tents upon the ice, but, upon hearing our voices,
set off in the opposite direction. A good deal of snow fell in
partial showers in the course of the day; it was nearly of that
fine kind which usually falls during the winter of these regions,
but we had flake snow and even light rain some days after this.
The snow, however, now remained undissolved upon the land in all
situations. Our hunting party returned late in the evening without
success, having merely seen a number of reindeer, which the want
of cover prevented their approaching. Seven days out of the nine
for which we were victualled having now elapsed, a party was
selected for walking over to the ships on the following day,
should the ice still continue in its present state.
The ice continuing in the same state, we commenced our work at
break of day on the 24th, and in three journeys had carried all
the lighter part of our baggage over land by eleven o'clock. All
hands then returned for the two boats, across the gunwales of
which the masts and oars were lashed for lifting them, the ground
not allowing us to drag them except for a short space here and
there.
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