CHAPTER IX. 



OLD TRUELOVE GREENLAND SEALING MELVILLE BAY 



SQUEEZES LOSS OF THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE 

 WHALING AND DANGERS OF WHALING. 



IN 1856 I engaged as harpooner of my old ship Truelove, 

 and our destination was Greenland. If not successful 

 there we were to proceed to Davis's Straits. We fitted out in 

 the corner of the Old, or now called Queen's Dock. The 

 crow's nest was aloft with the effigy of a man on the look 

 out. This attracted the attention of passers by. There 

 was huge quarters of beef in the tops, and in every respect 

 well fitted out. Everyone on board were in good hopes of 

 a prosperous voyage, and the vessel was viewed by hundreds 

 of passers by while lying ready to sail with the first spring 

 tide. She was but a small barque, yet drew about 16 feet. 

 When the time arrived for our departure, we were towed 

 down the old harbour and into the river amid hearty cheers 

 from the spectators. Arriving at Shetland, and obtaining 

 our complement of men, forty-five in number, we sailed 

 for the sealing grounds at the west ice of Greenland, in 

 company of several more ships. This season proved very 

 rough and boisterous, the winds prevailing from the east- 

 ward, closing the pack so tight that we could not force our 

 way into it to look for seals. A few of the bladder-nose or 

 hooded seals were shot. These animals, when attacked, 

 inflate a loose skin above their nose, like a bladder, which 

 protects the head from the blow of a club. The best 

 weapons are the sharp axe or rifle. One day I went with 

 my boat's crew to kill two of them, which were on a large 



