CHAPTER XIII. 



HARD TIMES DROOPING SPIRITS A FLOATING ISLAND 



BROOMING MIRAGES ONCE MORE NEARLY TRAPPED. 



NEXT year we once more fitted out the same brig for 

 Da vis's Straits, calling, as usual, at Lerwick, and left 

 with the first fair wind for the whaling grounds. 



A fresh breeze prevailed from the eastward, which made 

 us imagine we should speedily arrive at our destination. In 

 a few days the wind changed, and blew furiously from the 

 westward, driving us back many miles. We were under 

 close-reefed topsails for four days. After struggling for a 

 long time, we made the ice off Sukkertop (Sugar loaf), the 

 land being forty-five miles distant. 



After much detention we arrived in the neighbourhood of 

 Disco. Several whales were seen, and the boats sent in 

 pursuit, but without success. Every advantage was now 

 taken to get north. We cruised about for some time 

 on the whaling grounds off Black Hook, subsequently 

 coming to a place called Proven, a settlement to the south- 

 ward of Sanderson's Hope, which is a prominent headland, 

 upwards of 3000 feet high. There is a large loomery or 

 breeding-place for the great auk, called by the sailors, looms. 



The natives belonging to Upernavik have a long rope 

 attached to the cliff, and during the season gather quantities 

 of eggs in a manner similar to the people of St. Kilda in the 

 Lewis Islands, and some parts of Shetland. We made fast 

 to an iceberg under the lee of an island, close to the main- 

 land, and were soon joined by the s.s. Lady Seale, belonging 

 to the same owner, which made fast alongside, and we dis- 



