108 THE WHALEMAN , OR, 



CHAPTER VI. 



Our sad and desolate Feelings after the Departure of the Ship. — 

 What we should soon witness of Arctic Winter. — The Wreck vis- 

 ited from Time to Time. — Provisions transported to the Settlement. 



— The Weather. — Whales near Shore. — Severe Gale of Wind. — 

 Fall of Snow. — Ocean frozen over. — Sudden Introduction of Win- 

 ter, and its Dreariness. — Not to be described. — The Sun falling, 

 Nights lengthening. — Disappearance of the Sun. — Long Night. 



— How we passed our Time. — Confined to the Huts. — Singing. — 

 Neither Book nor Chart, nor Writing Materials, except Pieces of 

 Copper. — Hope of Liberation another Year. — Captain Norton's 

 Method of keeping Time. — The Razor. — Our Clothing. — Pro- 

 visions getting low. — Natives both eating and stealing ours. — A 

 new Chapter. — Commenced living on Blubber with the Natives. — 

 Native Stock diminishing. — Winters in the Arctic vary. — The 

 native Manner of capturing the Whale. — Preparing their Food. — 

 Native Bread. — Description of their Huts. — Their peculiar Lo- 

 cality. — Their Method of lighting and warming them. — The 

 Filthiness of the Natives. 



The next day after the departure of the ship, 

 as well as the departure of our highest earthly 

 hopes, — hopes which had been excited in us im- 

 measurably beyond any former experience, — we 

 remained principally in our huts, having neither 

 desire nor energy, heart nor hope, to go abroad, 

 but what was most fitting in our present condi- 

 tion, and future prospects, to indulge in sad and 

 melancholy reflections upon the few past hours. 



