NINE MONTHS IN THE ARCTIC. 209 



and degradation, — shut out from the hearing 

 and company of friends and the whole civilized 

 world, — after nine months and eight days, on 

 the 4th of July, 1853, we found ourselves safe 

 and happy on the decks of friendly vessels, with 

 excellent accommodations, and all that fellow- 

 seamen could do to make us comfortable and 

 contented. 



Four or five days after, the two ships above 

 mentioned, with some others, put into East Cape. 

 The natives came off in their canoes, as usual, 

 to trade. 



Captain Norton, with several masters of ships, 

 went ashore, and visited the settlement where he 

 and his men had lived, and called for dinner at 

 one of the huts. His object was that his friends 

 might have some idea of the manner of cooking, 

 as well as the articles of food, among the natives, 

 and how they prepared dinner. 



The sight was enough for Captain Jernegan, 

 who left the hut as soon as possible, while his 

 stomach sought to relieve itself by several invol- 

 untary throws ! 



Captain Norton made some little presents to 



the natives in consideration of their interest in 



him and his men during their abode with them. 



He collected various articles from the ships, — 



14 



