78 THE WHALEMAN; OR 



, V^iV, 



and as far as the eye could reach in an inland 

 direction, the ice and snow were perennial occu- 

 pants of the country. Neither the rains of spring 

 nor the suns of summer are able to melt away 

 and dissolve the deep foundations of a polar 

 Winter. 



The surface of the country was much broken 

 and uneven, and especially in the interior, al- 

 ternating in valleys, deep gorges, precipitous 

 cliffs, rugged and rocky eminences, one elevation 

 rising above another, until the remote horizon 

 exhibited lofty mountain ranges. The entire 

 panoramic view presented an aspect at once sub» 

 lime and frightful to behold. 



It should be remembered that, amid our hopes 

 and fears, we stood at this time on the borders 

 of human habitations; and beyond this locality, 

 as we afterwards ascertained, especially on this 

 coast, there was but one known settlement of the 

 natives to the north of us. 



The dead hog that drifted ashore was skinned 

 and roasted for supper on the second night after 

 the wreck, and for breakfast next morning. Uten- 

 sils for cooking were very scarce ; only a few 

 small articles had come ashore. The hog was 

 suspended over the fire, and turned over and 

 around when necessary, until it was baked suita- 

 ble for eating. 



