272 NEAREST THE POLE 



and he skilfully worked the ship through the crooked 

 channels to her anchorage. No coal was to be had 

 here but we obtained water and a few essential supplies, 

 and early Monday morning started for Nain, taking 

 the inside passage from Cape Mugford with which 

 Captain Bartlett fortunately was familiar. Lying- to 

 during the night we reached Nain shortly after noon the 

 following day. 



Here some wood and a little blubber and two or three 

 tons of coal-dust were obtained after much delay, due 

 to heavy squalls which prevented the passage of boats 

 from the ship to the shore. These squalls were so 

 violent that they tore one of our boats loose and drifted 

 it away. The Eskimo women here did all the work 

 of loading and unloading the wood. 



Still following the inside route, we proceeded to 

 Hopedale where more wood was obtained, and more 

 delay experienced from heavy wind. The second 

 night the squalls were so violent that even in the inner 

 harbour the Roosevelt dragged both anchors and went 

 aground ; coming off easily, however, at the next high 

 tide. 



On leavmg the narbour the ship was found to be 

 so light that in the fresh northwester then blowing 

 she would not answer her helm. Both anchors were 

 let go and when at night the wind moderated, she 

 worked back into the harbour where she was beached, 

 rudder hoisted out and rebuilt, the stem recalked, 

 natives employed to bring ballast and work the pumps, 

 while we awaited the arrival of the mail steamer 

 to secure coal, without which I did not think it advis- 

 able to proceed farther along this coast at this 



