454 VOYAGE TO THE 



chap. j n this, as in the former instance, that the ice was 

 v-^y^ lodged in hollow places in the cliff. While we con- 

 fsJe. tinued here we had an example of the manner in 

 which the face of the cliff might obtain an icy co- 

 vering similar to that in Escholtz Bay. There had 

 been a sharp frost during the night, which froze a 

 number of small streams that were trickling down 

 the face of the cliff, and cased those parts of it with 

 a sheet of ice, which, if the oozings from the cliff 

 and the freezing process were continued, would with- 

 out doubt form a thick coating to it. 



Upon the beach, under the cliffs, there was an 

 abundance of drift birch and pine wood, among 

 which there was a fir-tree three feet in diameter. 

 This tree, and another, which by the appearance of its 

 bark had been recently torn up by the roots, had been 

 washed up since our visit to this spot in July ; but 

 from whence they came we could not even form a con- 

 jecture, as we had frequently remarked the absence 

 of floating timber both in the sound and in the strait. 



We found some natives at this place laying out 

 their nets for seals, who, perceiving we were about 

 to take up our quarters near them, struck their tents 

 expeditiously, threw every thing into their baidars, 

 to which they harnessed their dogs, and drove off 

 for about half a mile, where they encamped again. 

 We procured from them about two bushels of whor- 

 tle berries, which they had collected for their own con- 

 sumption, and learnt that they had been unsuccess- 

 ful in fishing. We noticed that at their meals they 

 stripped their dried fish of its skin and gave it to 

 the women and children, who ate it very contentedly, 

 while the men regaled themselves upon the flesh. 



During the night we had a brilliant display of the 



