NINE MONTHS IN THE ARCTIC. 171 



having the appearance of a capacious bay. The 

 river flows towards the north. 



At this time, which was in March, we could 

 discover no signs of water either in the river or 

 in the ocean. Both were strongly bound in 

 chains of almost perennial ice. 



Having passed over this river, we found a tem- 

 porary shelter and cordial reception in another 

 settlement. Here we remained a number of 

 days, in consequence of a heavy fall of snow 

 and a severe gale of wind. 



It being now towards the middle of March, 

 we could plainly perceive a change in the atmos- 

 phere. It is true, we were farther south, which 

 made some difference in the temperature ; but 

 the air had lost much of that sharp and piercing 

 sensation which we felt in the winter, and which 

 is experienced, we believe, only in this part of 

 the earth's surface. 



Much to our surprise and pleasure, during our 

 abode in this settlement, we were served with 

 ham — a new article of food indeed to us, though 

 we had not a great deal of it, still a most agreea- 

 ble exchange, if only for one meal, in the place 

 of whale and walrus blubber. 



"We ascertained that these hams were taken 

 from the wreck of the ship Bramin, of New Bed- 

 ford, by the natives. This ship, as we afterwards 



