122 OLD WHALING DAYS. 



charged fifteen tons of coals into her, which we had brought 

 out in expectation that she would tow us when required. 



In a short time the ice slacked, and away she steamed, 

 leaving us to the dreary work of towing by our boats. 

 More sailing vessels came up, which made it more lively, 

 as we had been struggling along by ourselves, and taking 

 every advantage of the least slacking of the ice. I remarked 

 that the crews of sailing ships did not tow or track so cheer- 

 fully as formerly, f l^came to the conclusion that since steam 

 was introduced me spirits of the men drooped; and no 

 wonder, for the poor fellows would be towing at the rate of 

 one and a-half or two miles per hour. A steamer would pass 

 them at the rate of eight miles, with their crews leaning over 

 the bulwark taking their ease ; Ibut one must endeavour to 

 look at the bright side, and do our utmost to secure a 

 remunerative voyage. We threaded our way through the 

 intricate passages amongst the rocks and small islands close 

 inshore, until we arrived at the Duck Islands, but got no 

 further. From the masthead, as far as the glass would carry, 

 the floe was broken up inshore, and no land ice to be seen. 

 This is one of the greatest drawbacks in going^ through 

 Melville Bay. No man would run so great a risk of getting 

 beset amongst the loose floes, especially with a sailing ship, 

 as there is no knowing when they would get liberated. 

 With steam there is a probability of forcing their way. 



We waited some time, and seeing no possibility of getting 

 across the bay, we retraced our way back to the southward, 

 and searched everywhere for an opening. 



This year was noted for the prevalence of dense fogs, 

 which impeded our progress. Once we had a fog which 

 lasted six days, and knowing we were some distance from 

 the south lowland on the west side, north of Cape Hooper, 

 the officer whose watch it was on deck called down the 

 cabin that the vessel was close to the land. The ship was 

 immediately put about, and a boat lowered. We could not 



