8o OLD WHALING DAYS. 



been on duty such a long time, and were thoroughly tired, 

 we once more set our canvas and ran north until we came 

 to an island called Kinatuk, where the ice was tightly 

 packed. We made fast to a berg close to the island, and 

 were joined by our companions. I was sent on shore to 

 look at the grave of an Esquimaux whom Captain Parker 

 brought to England with her husband from Cumberland 

 Gulf in 1847. She died on the return journey, and was 

 buried on this island. The grave was undisturbed, and the 

 head board, which had her name, etc., inscribed upon it, 

 was in good preservation. She was called Ukaluk, in 

 English, a hare. Her husband's name was Memeadluk. 

 He still resided in Cumberland Gulf, leading a lazy life. 

 He was too idle to hunt or fish any more so long as the 

 presents lasted which he had received in England. We 

 lay here two days, when the ice opened, and with towing 

 we came to some open water. A light favourable breeze 

 springing up, we set our sails and came to Horse Head, a 

 peculiar headland or island which lies a little north of Cape 

 Shackleton, in Lat. 73^ N. In due time we came to the 

 Duck Islands, where we met with a block. The S.W. wind 

 had jammed the ice tight upon a reef of bergs which lay a 

 little north of the islands. As it became calm we com- 

 menced to tow, and were in such close proximity to a very 

 large rugged, splintered berg, that we had to brace our yards 

 sharp up to pass it, and the men refrained from singing for 

 fear the sound might cause the berg to split and fall upon 

 us. I have seen one split in two from the stroke of an ice 

 drill, which caused the death of three men. The report oi 

 a gun will sometimes have the same effect, as they are very 

 brittle, especially when aground. We reached Melville Bay 

 with the Devil's Thumb well open off Wilcox Point. This 

 peculiar mountain lies a little inland, and has the appearance 

 of a hand stretched out with the thumb upright. The ice 

 being close, we made fast to the land floe with our com- 



