io 4 OLD WHALING DAYS. 



habits of the natives. They filled their vessel with whales, 

 intending to sail the next day, but, unfortunately, they were 

 twenty-four hours too late. The harbour froze over during 

 the night, and they were frozen up for eight months, with 

 only six weeks' provisions for a complement of thirty-six men. 

 He afterwards told me his feelings were beyond description 

 at the prospect before him. The natives were chiefly those 

 with whom he was acquainted. He had wintered several 

 times previously, but had been provided for it. One can 

 imagine his feelings of gratitude when the natives came on 

 board, and said, " Here is plenty of walrus ; you shall not 

 starve we will provide for you." This neighbourhood 

 appears to be the winter home of the walrus. As toon as 

 the ice is strong enough to bear them, they lie upon it, each 

 one making a hole for itself, so that they can go down in 

 search of food. During the winter all hands lived on shore 

 with the natives, dressed like them, and lived as they did. 

 Weather permitting, the crew went with the natives walrus 

 hunting, and, without their kind assistance undoubtedly all 

 would have perished, as none but Esquimaux can hunt 

 walrus in the winter season. Their patience is wonderful. 

 They build a snow wall for shelter from the wind near the 

 holes, and stay watching, without moving, for many hours at 

 a time for the walrus to appear. They kept all the crew 

 supplied with food for eight months without any thought of 

 recompense, and when the vessel was liberated from her 

 long winter's imprisonment, the men were in perfect health 

 and strength. There had not been the least sign of scurvy 

 or sickness amongst them. I agree with Captain Budding- 

 ton, that when scurvy breaks out in a ship's company, 

 nothing will cure it so rapidly as a thorough change of diet, 

 such as raw seal or walrus flesh, with the blood to drink 

 that is, when it is possible to get it. My opinion is that 

 scurvy arises chiefly from darkness, confinement, and not 

 being able to take sufficient exercise in the daylight, but I 



