200 THE WHALEMAN J OR, 



piece of walrus or deer skin, giving some account 

 of the shipwreck, officers, and crew, and where 

 they could be found. 



We hoped by this means that the news of our 

 condition would, sooner or later, reach the ear 

 of some navigator early on "the coast, and thus 

 bring to pass a more speedy deliverance. 



In this, as the sequel will show, we were not 

 disappointed. The natives had no idea of writ- 

 ten language ; and, believing that something of 

 great importance was marked upon either the 

 paper or copper, or both, they preserved it with 

 the greatest care, and almost with superstitious 

 reverence. 



They had an impression that we could con- 

 verse with our countrymen and absent friends in 

 this way, which was true ; but what they sup- 

 posed was, that we could talk to them at any 

 time by those mysterious marks. And hence 

 they frequently urged us to speak to them, and 

 obtain some assistance from them, or that they 

 might send some aid to us. 



Mr. Reoy, one of our company, was the fir§t 

 to get on board of a ship, — the Bartholomew 

 Gosnold, — he being down some two hundred 

 miles below East Cape. He therefore gave im- 

 mediate information as to the locality of the 

 officers and crew of the Citizen. 



