OF THE POLAR SEA. 



3 



from whence he expected to be able to observe the first symptom of 

 moving, which the vessels might make. By some accident, however, 

 he did not make his appearance before the captain was obliged to 

 make sail, that he might get the ships through the intricate passage 

 of the Cockle Gat before it was dark. Fortunately, through the 

 kindness of Lieut. Hewit of the Protector, I was enabled to convey a 

 note to our missing companion, desiring him to proceed immediately 

 by the coach to the Pentland Firth, and from thence across the 

 passage to Stromness, which appeared to be the only way of proceed- 

 ing by which he could rejoin the party. 



June 3. — The wind continuing favourable after leaving Yarmouth, 

 about nine this morning we passed the rugged and bold projecting 

 rock termed Johnny Groat's house, and soon afterwards Duncansby 

 Head, and then_ entered the Pentland Firth. A pilot came from the 

 main shore of Scotland, and steered the ship in safety between the 

 different islands, to the outer anchorage at Stromness, though the 

 atmosphere was too dense for distinguishing any of the objects on 

 the land. Almost immediately after the ship had anchored, the 



V 



wind changed to N.W., the rain ceased, and a sight was then first 

 obtained of the neighbouring islands, and of the town of Stromness, 

 the latter of which, from this point of view, and at this distance, 

 presented a pleasing appearance. 



Mr. Geddes, the agent of the Hudson's Bay Company at this place, 

 undertook to communicate my wish for volunteer boatmen to the dif- 

 ferent parishes, by a notice on the church-door, which he said was the 

 surest and most direct channel for the conveyance of information to 

 the lower classes in these islands, as they invariably attend divine ser- 

 vice there every Sunday. He informed me that the kind of men we 

 were in want of would be difficult to procure, on account of the very 

 increased demand for boatmen for the herring fishery, which has 

 recently been established on the shores of these islands : that last year, 

 sixty boats and four hundred men only were employed in this service, 



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