180 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. September 



cate with the Arctic Highlanders, but the gale was 

 blowing so fiercely and the sea breaking so heavily 

 against the shore that it was dangerous to send a boat 

 away from the ship. 



We looked forward to communicating with the 

 Eskimo early the following morning, and a number 

 of presents were prepared ; but during the night 

 the wind shifted round suddenly to the northward, 

 blowing directly into the bay. The low barometer, 

 thick snow-storm, dark night, and rocky shore com- 

 pelled me to think more of the ships than the un- 

 fortunate Eskimo ; so expecting a strong gale from 

 the north, I steamed out to sea in order to obtain an 

 offing from the land. 



We afterwards gladly learnt that Sir Allen Young 

 in the ' Pandora ' had visited the same family only 

 a fortnight previously, and given them many valuable 

 presents. 



Unsettled and misty weather prevented our com- 

 municating with the Cary Islands; the temperature 

 falling to 27° warning me to make our way south as 

 quickly as possible. The wind again coming from the 

 southward we crossed Baffin's Bay under sail, arriving 

 off Possession Bay on the south side of Lancaster 

 Sound at noon of the 16th. In crossing we met with 

 few icebergs and no floe- ice whatever. In misty 

 weather the numerous icebergs which are to be met 

 with close to the land between Cape York and Whale 

 Sound, would certainly warn ships of their proximity 

 to the shore. 



Near Cape Atholl the temperature of the water 

 was 29°*5. This was unusuallv low, as we had found 



