422 VOYAGE TO THE 



chap, the prospect on its eastern side, the view was ob- 



w-y-L> structed by a barrier of ice which appeared to join 



Narrative w j^h the land. This barrier seemed high ; but as 



of the ... 



Barge. there was much refraction, in this we might possibly 

 have been deceived. The weather assuming a very 

 unsettled appearance in the offing, (and the S.E. 

 breeze dying away,) we had every reason to expect 

 the wind from the westward ; and knowing the 

 ice to extend as far south as 71°, the consequences 

 that would attend such a shift were so evident, that 

 we judged it prudent not to attempt penetrating 

 any farther, especially in this advanced state of the 

 season. Accordingly we anchored within the eighth 

 of a mile of the point, under shelter of an iceberg 

 about fourteen feet high, and from fifty to sixty 

 feet in length, that had grounded in four fathoms 

 water. On the eastern side of the point there was 

 a village, larger than any we had before seen, con- 

 sisting entirely of yourts. The natives, on seeing 

 us anchor, came down opposite the boat in great 

 numbers, but seemed very doubtful whether to treat 

 us as friends or enemies. We made signs of friend- 

 ship to them ; and a couple of baidars reluctantly 

 ventured off and accepted a few beads and some to- 

 bacco, which on their return to the shore induced 

 several others to visit us. These people were clothed 

 like the Esquimaux we had seen on the other parts 

 of the coast : their implements were also the same, 

 except that we thought they were more particular 

 in constructing the bow, the spring of which was 

 strengthened with whalebone. 



Many of the men wore, as lip ornaments, slabs of 

 bone and stone in an oblong shape, about three inches 

 in length and one in breadth. They were much 



