4 CAPTAIN M*CLITRE*S DESPATCHES. 



and the sea throngli -\vhicli we bad come looking nearly as white as 

 the ice ahead, except that lanes of water were observable. We 

 instantly hauled to the wind, and commenced working ont. During 

 the night the breeze freshened considerably, bringing showers of rain 

 with thick weather, while being compelled to carry a press of canvass 

 through very heavy and close sailing ice rendered the navigation 

 extremely critical. The vessel occasionally struck with some violence. 

 This continued till the afternoon of the 7th, when clear water was 

 reported from the Crow's-nest. The wind almost immediately failing, 

 the boats were all manned, and towing commenced amid songs and 

 cheers, which continued with luiabated good humour for six hours, 

 when their laborious work was brought to a successful termination ; 

 being in perfectly clear water in Smith's Bay, a light air springing up, 

 we worked to the eastward. 



At 2 a.m. of the 8th, being off Point Drew, sent Mr. Court (second 

 master), on shore to erect a cairn, and bury a notice of our having 

 passed. Upon landing they were met by three natives, who at first 

 were very timid, but, upon exchanging signs of friendship, which con- 

 sisted of raising the arms three times over the head, they approached 

 the boat, and, after the pleasant salutation of rubbing noses, became 

 very communicative ; when, l)y the assistance of our invaluable inter- 

 preter, Mr. iVIiertsching — the selection of this gentleman for this 

 important office does infinite credit to the discernment of those who 

 sent him — we found the tribe consisted of ten tents (this being the 

 only approach to their nund)ers he could obtain), that they had 

 arrived only three days previously, and that tlic}^ hold communication 

 with a party inland, who trade with the Russian Fur Company. The 

 evening before, they had observed us, but could not imagine what 

 large trees they were moving about (our masts), and all the tribe had 

 assembled on the beach to look at them, when they agreed that it was 

 something verv extraordinary, and left tlie three men who met the boat to 

 watch. They also gave the pleasing intelligence that we should find open 

 water along the coast from about three to five miles' distance during 

 the summer ; that the heavy ice very seldom came in, or never left the 

 land further than at present ; that they did not know if there were 

 any islands further north, as they found it impossible to go in their 

 kyacks, when in ])ursuit of seals, further than one day's journey to 

 the main ice ; and then the lanes of water allowed of their proceeding 

 three-quarters of a day further, which brought them to very large and 

 high ice, with not space enough in any part of it to allow their kyacks 

 to enter ; the ])robable distance, Mr. INIiertsching therefore estimates, 

 from his knowledge of the Esquimaux habits, to be about 40 miles 

 off sbore, and from what I have seen of the pack, I am inclined to 

 think this is [)erfectly correct, for a more unbroken mass 1 never 

 witnessed. They also mentioned seeing tiie boats with white men going 

 eastward last year (which I sup])0se was Lieutenant rullen), but had 

 not seen any other white persons or anything like this vessel before ; 

 they had, therefore, no name of sufficient grandeur to give the great 

 " omiae," so tiiev called her the " fast-movinc; island." Several of 

 them came off' to the vessel, but had little to l)arter, as all their 

 hunters were away, but immediately we had been observed they were 

 sent for, and would soon arrive. Then, said they, "You will be gone, 

 and how disapj)ointed they will be." They aj)pcar a simple, kind 



