i 4 OLD WHALING DAYS. 



In this harbour there were seven ships, each of which 

 had obtained several whales. Other vessels did not come 

 in, and were waiting outside in the hope that whales would 

 make their appearance at the headlands, which they were 

 accustomed to do. One night it blew a strong wind from 

 the N.E., and the ice came from the north, rapidly filling 

 the harbour, creeks, and small bays until the whole assumed 

 the appearance of a solid field of ice. We were unable to 

 lower the boats and get away, and several captains travelled 

 to the top of a high mountain, to get a view of the state 

 of the ice to the northward. After seven hours' absence, 

 they arrived back with the news that nothing but ice was to 

 be seen to the northward and eastward. The ships out- 

 side were about ten miles to the southward, and under 

 weigh, but we seven were here like rats in a trap, and it was 

 a sorry look-out for us. The masters held a consultation, 

 and it was proposed that about twenty men belonging to 

 each ship should stay by their own vessels, and the 

 remainder make an attempt to reach the ships in the offing. 

 Next morning all hands were called, and after breakfast 

 they procee'ded to make preparations to leave. The men 

 who were to remain by the ship gave their messmates a 

 helping hand in taking the boats over the ice. They 

 reached a low point of land about two miles distant, but 

 found it too difficult to launch the boats with the lines in. 

 These were therefore coiled on the land, and the light boats 

 launched a little further on. The parting between the two 

 bodies of men was anything but cheerful under such 

 circumstances. Each encouraged the other with a true 

 British cheer, which inspired fresh hope for the future. It 

 was dark when our men returned on board. They were 

 thoroughly worn out with hard toil. During the night it 

 began to blow and snow heavily, and we became extremely 

 anxious for the welfare of those who had left us. With the 

 light of another day, we went to drag the lines over the ice 



