go Find Traces of the Natives. 



in our boat-cloaks and a blanket, we lay down to sleep in our 

 clothes, and found no inconvenience from the cold. The exter- 

 nal temperature was 28° Fahrenheit. The same method was 

 adopted for twelve nights, and we never found ourselves the 

 least incommoded by the cold. The average temperature was 

 37°, the extremes 53° and 23°. 



At this station, which was named Cape Borlase Warren, we 

 found traces of the natives, and also several graves, and hoards 

 of blubber, which are piled up all along the shores, and are 

 marked by heaps of stones being placed over them, and which 

 also keep the birds of prey from devouring them. Their graves 

 did not remain free from our curiosity ; we opened some of them, 

 but nothing but a few mouldering bones was discovered. 



August 17. — Next morning, after taking the necessary angles 

 and making observations for our survey, we embarked at 9 in 

 the morning, and proceeded westerly along the shores of the 

 bay, still pulling. In the afternoon a fresh wind sprung up off 

 the land, and the wherry coming in contact with some hard 

 bay-ice, had her bows cut through, and the water rushed in so 

 fast, that we had much difficulty in preventing our provisions 

 from being spoiled. After an hour's constant bailing, we reached 

 the first headland, where we hauled the boat on shore to repair, 

 having made a distance this day of sixteen miles. 



On examining the boat's bows, both were found to be much 

 cut by yesterday's expedition. We took out the old planks 

 and replaced them by others, doubling them, which we found 

 to be the most effectual security against farther accidents. We 

 found here more recent traces of the natives, so that we began 

 to look anxiously for them ; it rained and blew hard during the 

 night, but as our tents were under the lee of some high rocks, 

 we remained both dry and warm. 



18th. — In the morning several whales were seen for the first 

 time *. The weather moderating in the afternoon, we continued 

 our voyage, still coasting along the shores of the bay, which will 

 be better understood by reference to the chart. We reached 



* I cannot but consider our having seen so few as somewhat remarkable. 

 From the appearance of the sea and ice, the Greenland Pilots thought we 

 were upon good ground, and were continually expressing their astonishment 

 at the absence of these animals. 



4 



