440 



VOYAGE TO THE 



CHAP. 

 XII. 



Narrative 

 of the 

 Barge. 



the northward, anchored : — a heavy sea running, but 

 little wind. We had not been more than half an 

 hour in this situation when it blew again from the 

 same point with redoubled violence. With some 

 difficulty we lifted our anchor and made sail in for 

 the land. As we approached it, the gusts came very 

 strong off the hills, notwithstanding which we carried 

 a press of sail to regain an anchorage. For an hour 

 and a half we were literally sailing through a sea of 

 spray. At six, having closed well with the land, we 

 anchored and rode out the gale. This evening Mr. El- 

 son put the crew on half an allowance of provisions. 



Wednesday, 6th Sept. Early in the morning we 

 observed an alteration in the weather. The clouds 

 collecting fast from the N. W. led us to expect the 

 wind from that quarter. At ten a.m., the wind be- 

 coming variable and moderate, weighed, and by three 

 in the afternoon, to our inexpressible joy, got round 

 the windy promontory of Cape Lisburn. The crew 

 were again put on their former allowance ; and we 

 made all sail, with an increasing breeze to the south- 

 ward. Passing the cape, we observed five baidars 

 hauled up and one tent, but saw few of the natives. 

 It had been Mr. Elson's intention to look into the 

 bight on the northern side of Point Hope ; but the 

 sea was so high and the weather so threatening that 

 we kept well off, in order to weather the point. 

 We noticed the water, whilst off Marryat Creek, to 

 be of a very muddy colour, as if some river dis- 

 charged itself there. By nine p. m. we rounded the 

 point and steered S. S. E., to have a good offing in 

 case the wind should again come from the westward. 



Thursday, 7th Sept. The weather seemed de- 

 termined to persecute us to the last. The wind 



