416 VISITED BY ESQUIMAUX. [CHAP.VI. 



coast was still mountainous and imposing, with a 

 singularly irregular outline, partially lost in a 

 horizontal band of fleecy clouds, which the fine- 

 ness of the day allowed to dwell there. Nor 

 was variety wanting; for, besides numerous 

 dark and rugged islands extending from point 

 to point, there were spacious bays and harbours, 

 almost land-locked, and stretching so far inland 

 as to lose their sombre aspect in the soft blue of 

 the distance. In one place there was an amphi- 

 theatre of frowning hills, the bases of which 

 were buried in mist, while the picturesque sum- 

 mits stood out clear and defined, touched here 

 and there with snow, producing an effect most 

 striking, but of which no description could give 

 an adequate idea. Four noisy natives of the 

 Esquimaux race had the hardihood to venture 

 through much difficult drift ice to the ship, from 

 whence, however, they returned amply rewarded, 

 and the richest of their tribe. Some of the pre- 

 sents, supplied for that purpose by government, 

 were given to them, together with a few brass 

 medals, having the ship's name on one side, and 

 a figure of Britannia on the other. The north 

 shore could be seen from deck. 



In the evening the ice became rather slacker, 

 and an intimation of the freshening of the 

 westerly wind was given by the slipping of the 

 warp over the head of the hummock to which it 



