Account of a Voyage lo Spitjhergen. I4I 



much fatisfadlion ; but I was more completely gratified by 

 the fecond, which is the one I mean to defcribe. 



I engaged myfclf as fargeon on board the Rifing Sun, 

 William Souter mafter, a well-appointed ftout Oiip of 400 

 tons burthen, in the employ of Mr. William W^ard, The 

 veflel carried about 90 men, and had 20 nine-pounders 

 mounted on the main-deck, with nine whale-boats, fome of 

 them hung in the tackles over the fides, and others flowed 

 and lafhed on the deck. 



We failed from London in the latter end of March 1780, 

 and, as is ufual with Greenlandmen, called at the town of 

 Larwick, the capital of the Shetland iflcs, where we found 

 a moft hofpitable reception. A Mr. Innes, the moft opu- 

 lent inhabitant of that country, kept an open table for every 

 mailer of a vellel and his furgeon ; and no language can con- 

 vey a proper idea of the kind and dilintereftcd manner in 

 which he received and entertained his gneits. W^e lay there 

 fourteen days wind bound. The country has a bleak barren 

 appearance, the furface being generally rocky, or covered 

 With turf, which is the fuel employed there; but the bene- 

 volence and hofpitality of the more opulent, and the decency, 

 fobrietj', and good conduft of all the inliabitants, even thofe 

 of the lowefl clafs, more than compenfate for the barren- 

 ncfs of the foil. 



Provifions of every kind, the finer vegetables and fruit ex- 

 cepted, are very abundant here, and extremely reafonable. 

 The price of a good fowl was threepence, of a dozen of new- 

 laid eggs one pennv; and as much excellent fifli, cod, had- 

 dock, halibut, mackerel, Sec. could be bought for oi\e fliilling, 

 as would coft at Icaft ten pounds at Billingfgate, or as ufed to 

 dine our whole (liip's conipany and the cabin. Potatoes, 

 turnips^ Ike, are not more common there than peaches and 

 apricots in England. Wheat flour is alfo a rare article, but 

 the inhabitants in general prefer bread made of oatmeal. 



The town of Larwick eonfifts of about 200 houfes, of one, 

 •r at inofl of two {lories, which form a narrow crooked lane* 

 o on 



