198 THE WHALEMAN J OR, 



bergs, differing in dimensions and form, scat- 

 tered here and there upon the surface of the 

 water. The scene presented to our view was 

 that of an awful wreck or convulsion in na- 

 ture, while those stupendous fragments exhib- 

 ited the force and energy which had been 

 displayed. 



The next day, the 25th, we saw whales close 

 in to the edge of the ice on shore ; they remained 

 in the vicinity several days, and then went south 

 again, or to some other part of the ocean, as we 

 supposed, for their food. 



The ice having left this region more suddenly 

 than common, greatly disappointed the usual 

 expectations of the natives in taking a large 

 number of walrus, which are highly prized among 

 them. They serve about the same purpose with 

 them as the reindeer does to the Laplander. 



The walrus follow the ice ; and they are usu- 

 ally found in great abundance among it, and es- 

 pecially upon the edges of extensive tracts both 

 of floating and field ice. 



After the ice had passed away, and the ocean 

 was once more free from the embargo which 

 winter had laid upon it, we anxiously and daily 

 looked for some approaching sail. We knew that 

 arctic whalemen would soon be along, and press- 

 ing their way up towards higher latitudes, an open 



