128 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. V. 



make the east coast of Greenland, in as high a lati- 

 tude as the barrier of ice, which renders that coast 

 difficult of access, would permit, and having got 

 within the barrier to ascend the coast to the north- 

 ward as far as might be compatible the same year, 

 in order to obtain a third pendulum station for 

 Captain Sabine's experiments, at the highest degree 

 of latitude that might be there attained. 



He was then to return to the southward, and if 

 Captain Sabine should wish for a fourth station on 

 the coast of Iceland, he was to use his discre- 

 tion, according to the state of the weather and the 

 time of the year, to stop at that island ; if not, a 

 fourth station might be sought elsewhere, in or 

 about the same parallel, and after that to return to 

 England. The equipment of the Griper being com- 

 pleted, and the magnetical pendulum, with the 

 various instruments for astronomical and other 

 scientific purposes, being embarked by the second 

 week in May, she sailed from the Nore on the 11th 

 of that month for Hammerfest, where she arrived 

 on the 4th June. 



This place, built on a small island named Qualoen, 

 or Whale Island, is said to consist of about a dozen 

 houses. The bay is small, but the anchorage good 

 and safe; the only provisions to be got here were 

 rein-deer, which were cheap ; the trade is entirely 

 in fish and oil. The natives are described as kind 

 and hospitable, and were pleased at the idea of a 



