98 UPERNIVIK BA Y. Chap. VII. 



needles, and such like articles. Good coal has been found 

 upon Durbin Island (near Cape Searle), in a convenient 

 little cove upon its southern side ; and as the old sailing 

 whalers are fast being replaced by steamers, this place may 

 become of great importance to them. 



Amongst the many stray questions put to our kind visitors, 

 " the fashions " were not forgotten, and, strange to relate, 

 crinoline has actually quadrupled the price of whalebone 

 within the last few years. 



The sooner the poor whales memorialize the Empress for 

 a change of fashion the better ! 



We are refitting, shooting, and devouring quantities of 

 excellent mussels ; eider ducks are very abundant, but ex- 

 tremely shy. Poor puss has been killed ; tempted on deck 

 by the unusually warm weather, she was pounced upon by 

 the dogs. 



17th. — Yesterday our attempt to enter the port of God- 

 havn failed, it is still filled with ice. This evening Young 

 and I examined a narrow rocky cove — Upernivik Bay of 

 the natives ; finding it suitable for our purpose, the ship 

 was brought in and moored to the rocks. We were received 

 with much kindness by our friends Mr. and Mrs. Olrik, and 

 were presented with a file of late English papers. A con- 

 siderable supply of beer was ordered to be brewed for us. 



I found Mrs. Olrik without a fire in her sitting room, it 

 was unnecessary ; the windows looked to the south, and the 

 sun shone brightly in upon a profusion of geraniums and 

 European flowers, at once reminding one of home, and re- 

 freshing the senses by their perfume and beauty ; the merry 

 voices of the children were also a most pleasing novelty. 

 Mr. Olrik says the past winter has not been in any way 

 remarkable, except for the prevalence of strong winds; April 

 and the early part of May have been unusually cold. 



24///. — We did honour to Her Majesty's birthday by 



