182 



278 VOYAGE TO THE 



CHAP, was thrown back by the sea, and rendered nearly useless. 

 VII • 



^ "j Several persevering and unsuccessful efforts were after- 



Sept. wards made to communicate with the vessel, which be- 

 ing anchored in shallow water struck hard upon the 

 2;round, and soon filled. Some Esquimaux happened 

 to have a baidar near the spot, and Mr. Belcher compel- 

 led them to assist him in reaching the barge ; but the sea 

 ran too high, and the natives not being willing to exert 

 themselves, the attempt again failed. The sea was 

 now making a breach over the vessel, and Mr. Bel- 

 cher desired the cockswain to cut the cable, and allow 

 her to come broadside upon the shore ; but whether 

 through fear, or that the cockswain did not understand 

 his orders, it was not done. There were four men 

 and a boy on board at this time, two of whom, finding 

 no hope of relief from the shore, jumped overboard, 

 with spars in their hands, and attempted to gain the 

 beach, but were unfortunately drowned. The others 

 retreated to the rigging ; among them was a boy, 

 whose cries were for some time heard on shore, but at 

 length, exhausted with cold and fatigue, he fell from 

 the rigging, and was never seen again. 



The party of Esc|uimaux, who had so reluctantly 

 rendered their personal assistance, beheld this loss of 

 lives with the greatest composure, giving no other aid 

 than that of their j^rayers and superstitious ceremo- 

 nies ; and seeing the helpless condition of those 

 thrown upon the shore, began to pilfer every thing 

 they could, bringing the party some fish occasionally, 

 not from charitable motives, but for the purpose of 

 engaging their attention, and of affording themselves 

 a better opportunity of purloining the many articles 

 belonging to the boat which were washed ashore. 

 About eleven o'clock at night the sea began to subside. 



