44 OLD WHALING DAYS. 



friends and our crew. They were very down-hearted and 

 cried. I believe it would have taken some of our friends 

 very little persuasion to stay another winter, but it was-rof no 

 use. The natives did not leave us until we were five or six 

 miles away from the harbour, and we gave the poor things 

 three cheers. We saw them a long time lying still in their 

 canoes and boats before they attempted to return. It was 

 five years after this when I saw some of them again. We 

 were six weeks in their company in the years 1857 and 1858, 

 when I was mate of the Emma. The first year of wintering 

 was succeeded by Americans, Scotch, and English, following 

 the same example, and many a poor fellow I have known 

 lies buried upon a small island in the middle of Niatlick 

 harbour. 



When the ships winter, they do not carry half their com- 

 plement of men, but engage the natives, giving them food 

 and clothes in return. It was very detrimental to the habits 

 of the poor things, as their children were not then trained in 

 the use of the bow and arrow or canoe, but trusted to the 

 ships coming. They had got the habit of drinking rum and 

 smoking tobacco, and had contracted other vices. There 

 are no missionaries in this part of the globe. The Moravians 

 were in the Labrador, and the Danes upon the east side of 

 Straits, but not one on the whole of the west side. I could 

 not see it was possible for any to succeed, as the natives were 

 so straggling and always on the move, and I am afraid the 

 poor people were falling back. They were much better off 

 whilst in their wild state. I have been a long time among 

 them, and that is my opinion. 



For some days after we had left the Gulf, we encountered 

 heavy weather, and were laid to for three days. The passage 

 home was prolonged by bad weather, and the Americans were 

 very anxious now for home. We arrived at Stromness, and 

 discharged our men. Adverse winds detaining us a day or 

 two, we got a most welcome stock of fresh provisions, which 



