48 REFLECTIONS ON OUR PROSPECTS. 



I cannot play the humorous or the buffoon, but truth, 

 simple truth alone, in such pleasant terms as I can re- 

 duce it to, will prevail. I have nothing to gain, nothing 

 to fear : my own family motto must guide me through- 

 out. Those who despise "Loyal au mort" and loyal to 

 facts, must not depend too much for amusement in this 

 narrative. 



Our departure from Upernavik, to use the seaman's 

 well-known expression, was the " hoisting in of our long 

 boat." Henceforth we must be considered at sea, and 

 dependent on our own resources. Cut off, for a series of 

 years, from any but our own companionship, and depen- 

 dent in no small degree upon the dona fde constituents 

 of our society, power ceases, and the will of the least 

 amongst us may create bella, horrida bella. Upon what 

 a volcano do we stand ! The sullen chief, if he be so, 

 must chew the cud, and vegetate year after year in sul- 

 lenness and vexatiousness of spirit. No such purgatory 

 could exist, better calculated for a man of narrow mind, 

 none so dangerous to a sensible mind. Such then 

 being our feelings, I proceed, in charity with all men, 

 not perfect myself, and willing to overlook all faults in 

 others, provided they do not, when I tell them of it, still 

 continue to tread upon my corns. 



I had a very strong inclination to cut across direct for 

 the west laud, under the impression that we should find 

 less obstruction ; but the predominant feeling being in 

 favour of Melville Bay, being myself but a Johnny New- 

 come, I submitted to the ice-masters and others, who 

 thought they knew better, and followed up the whalers, 

 reported to be about twenty days in advance of us. I 



