Narrative 



PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 433 



that had been thus deposited. The flesh and blub- C J^ P - 

 ber which had been separated were wrapped in the 

 skin, and were in a most disgusting oily state. One ofThe 

 of the natives put in his hand, stirred up the contents, arge 

 and offered us some, the sight of which alone was 

 enough to turn one's stomach. He seemed to pity 

 our want of taste, and sucked his fingers with the 

 greatest relish. Each of the crew having provided 

 himself with native boots, ke. for travelling in, 

 returned to the boat. During the night the gale 

 abated and the wind fell almost calm, and it began 

 to freeze hard. Wherever there was any opening 

 before, the water was covered with young ice. The 

 tide here rose and fell from eighteen to twenty 

 inches : — the time of change very irregular, probably 

 influenced by the ice. 



Saturday, 26th Aug. Our chance of getting clear 

 seemed more remote now than ever, and we com- 

 menced making preparations for the land journey. 

 The crew were sent on shore to exercise their limbs, 

 and train themselves for walking. We traced the 

 windings of the river for some distance ; the banks 

 were high on each side. It seemed deep, and its 

 turnings frequent and sudden. The only animal 

 we saw was a red fox, which avoided our pursuit. 

 In the evening we returned to the boat — the wea- 

 ther still frosty. 



Sunday, 27th Aug. We had a sharp frost during 

 the night, attended with frozen particles, which 

 fell like dust, and covered our clothes. The wind 

 light from the S. W., with a thick fog. The fresh- 

 water ponds were frozen to the thickness of half 

 an inch. After eight a. m. Mr. Elson and myself 

 walked along the beach to reconnoitre the state of 



vol. i. 2 F 



