38 OLD WHALING DAYS. 



ice having broken up close to their winter quarters, so that 

 it made easier work for them. 



When we first sighted the boat, all hands were on the 

 tip-toe of expectation, but as it came alongside, everybody 

 was sorely disappointed. Instead of the American crew, 

 we found they were Esquimaux, in European clothing. 

 There were no lines or harpoons in the boat, but the 

 natives had four or five rifles with them. Of course they 

 were invited on board, but they accepted the invitation 

 rather reluctantly, which made the American captain very 

 dubious. Our first intentions were to keep them on board, 

 and also take possession of the boat. They said the men 

 were all well, had got plenty of whales, and were at 

 Kemisuack, about twenty-five miles distant. They could 

 not, however, give a very clear account of their being in 

 possession of the boat, and we did not trust all they said. 

 Still our captain would not lend himself to any scheme 

 respecting these Esquimaux, as he had such implicit con- 

 fidence in them. Yet he was not without misgivings. We 

 sailed along until darkness overtook us, and then laid to for 

 the night, 



I will here give an account of Cumberland Gulf or 

 Sound. It is about one hundred miles long and sixty 

 miles wide at its broadest part. Each side is studded 

 with small islands and rocks, sunken, and some above 

 water. It has plenty of fiords with* anchorages. Rocks 

 extend eight or ten miles from the land, which makes the 

 place most difficult to navigate, and it takes a strong nerve 

 to knock about here in the dark. It was not discovered 

 more than eight years before this date, and of course there 

 were no charts to guide the master of a ship. At various 

 parts whales frequently make their appearance on their way 

 south, especially on the southern side, but as they were 

 mostly on passage, and did not stay in one place, they were 

 seen once or twice, and perhaps no more. If one did get 



