288 A V O Y A G E T O 



i77'?- As the feafon was now Co far advanced, I was fearful left 



i. - t-" • any delay or hindrance fhould arife, on our parts, to Captain 

 Gore's farther views of difcovery, and therefore gave orders 

 that no more fheathing fhould he ripped off, than was abfo- 

 lutely neceflary for repairing the damages fuflained by the 

 ice. This I did, being apprehenfive of their meeting with 

 more decayed planks, which, I judged, had much better 

 remain in that Hate, than be lilled up with green birch, 

 upon a fuppofition that fuch was to be had. All hands were, 

 at prefent, bufily employed in feparate duties, that every 

 thing might be in readinefs for fea, againft the time our 

 carpenters fhould have finifhed their work. We fet apart 

 four men to haul the feine for falmon, which were caught 

 in great abundance, and found to be of an excellent quality. 

 After fupplying the immediate wants of both mips, we 

 faired down near a hoglhead a day. The invalids, who 

 were four in number, were employed in gathering greens, 

 and in cooking for the parties on fhore. Our powder was 

 alfo landed, in order to be dried; and the fea-horfe blubber, 

 with which both fhips, in our paffagc to the North (as has 

 been before related), had ftored themfelvcs, was now boiled 

 down for oil, which was become a neceflary article, our 

 candles having long fince been expended. The cooper war. 

 fully engaged in his department : and in this manner were 

 both fhips companies employed in their feveral occupa- 

 s.uurday 28. tions, till Saturday afternoon, which was given up to all 

 our men, except the carpenters, for the purpofe of warn- 

 ing their linen, and getting their clothes in fome little 

 order, that they might make a decent appearance on Sun- 

 day. 



Sunday ? 9 . In the afternoon of that day, we paid the laft offices to 

 Captain Gierke. The officers and men of both fhips walked 



in 



