A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 181 



On the 18th an old Dane, drawn by twelve dogs, and 

 attended by a native boy, came to truck with the ships. 

 This visit was made the preceding midnight, if such ex- 

 pression be correct at this place and date, where there is 



was suffused with cirrostratus of the flimsiest kind : every breath of 

 wind lulled to a dead calm : the ice streaming off insensibly with the 

 current : the whole scene was characteristic of tranquility, heightened 

 in effect by the numerous fleet lying about in every point with all 

 sails loose and inactive : to this succeeded a dense mist, which limited 

 the circle of view to about a hundred yards. 



June 30: therm. 31°, 34°, 33°: wind N. E., fresh breeze: fog 

 intensely thick, but bright: Berry's Island near, lat. 73° 10' N. : 

 this island takes its name from the master of a whale ship, who, 

 having been unsuccessful in his voyage for several years, ventured 

 alone into this latitude, where the immense number of whales gave 

 him the means of filling his ship with ease : his good fortune con- 

 tinued for several years, until others of his acquaintance, having dis- 

 covered the secret, followed his track, when the whales shifted from 

 the unexpected annoyance, and retired further to the northward : 

 Berry erected a rude obelisk, which still remains upon this island : 

 there are many dangerous rocks at the southern and northern ex- 

 tremities of Berry's Island, from which it would be adviseable to 

 keep a ship safely distant : a shoal of delphinus leucas, with their young 

 in company, passed the ship : procellaria glacialis numerous : lams 

 eburneus and tridactylus ; also colymbus troile, and a pair of sterna 

 hirundo : fog continues to the end. 



