56 OLD WHALING DAYS. 



or any prospect of getting to the northward, we were 

 obliged to seek inshore, and fetched in by Cape Broughton. 

 The pack ice was drifting along the land, but no distance 

 off, so all the ships sent their boats inshore at this place to 

 see if there was anything to pick up. We went to Cape 

 Searle, and there laid at anchor about a week, sending the 

 boats away every day. The weather during this time was 

 beautiful. The sky was clear, and there was little wind. It 

 was a pleasure to be away in the boats. We were obliged to 

 get under weigh and go outside, as the ice was coming down 

 rapidly. We again went to the north of Merchant's Bay, 

 and sent our boats inshore. There are two small islands or 

 rocks, called by the men Terrification Islands, but by whom 

 and for what reason I do not know. One day boats were 

 sent away from all the vessels, and men landed on these 

 islands. They took notice that the bay was fast filling up 

 with the ice coming down along the mainland. Those who 

 knew the place well, said how dangerous it was to stay 

 longer on account of the* ice surrounding the islands the 

 currents eddying round would in a short time prevent their 

 return. They warned three boats' crews belonging to the 

 Eclipse, of Peterhead, of the consequences of delay. The 

 officers belonging to that ship, being strangers in Davis's 

 Straits, took no heed of the friendly warning, but pulled 

 further amongst the loose ice towards the mainland, thinking 

 there might be a better chance of securing a whale there 

 than at the outside. Their ideas were correct if there had 

 been no ice to contend with, but what use was it to get 

 trapped when it could be avoided, and lose both chances. 

 When they desired to return they were unable to do so, as 

 the ice had completely encircled them. The other boats 

 returned to their respective ships. The following morning 

 nothing was seen of the three boats. The wind came to 

 blow strong on the land, and there seemed to be little hopes 

 of ever seeing them again, the ships having to work off from 



