1 64 OLD WHALING DAYS. 



was advised to leave immediately by the captain of the s.s. 

 Camperdown, who informed him of the heavy body of ice 

 drifting past the entrance of the Gulf, which would probably 

 cause it to freeze over very soon. He ignored this advice, 

 and trusted to the steamer towing him clear. However, he 

 weighed his anchor the day before the s.s. Camperdown. 

 When about twenty miles from Niatlik, he was frozen up 

 and unable to move, although he had a fresh breeze and all 

 sail set. He pulled his ensign union down for assistance 

 when the steamer passed. The captain asked what he 

 required, and he answered that he wished to be towed clear 

 of the Gulf. The captain of the steamer replied that it was 

 an impossibility for him to accede to his request, as pro- 

 bably he would not be able to get his own ship through the 

 ice outside, so he advised him to retrace his way back. 



Eight months afterwards, it was reported that the brig 

 got safely back into the harbour. The wintering ships 

 helped him with provisions, although he had a good stock 

 on board. If that had not been the case it would have told 

 heavily upon them all. When ihe s.s. Camperdown 

 arrived at the outside of the Gulf, it took her three days to 

 get through the ice. The keen frost had cemented it 

 together, and nothing would have saved them had not the 

 ship been strong and powerful. This is another illustration 

 of the superiority of steam. Steamers, it is true, run great 

 risks, but, taking everything into consideration, they do not 

 encounter so much danger as a sailing ship. It was 

 fortunate we took time by the forelock, or else we too 

 might have been in the same predicament as the brig. 



After a fine passage, we passed the island of St. Kilda, 

 and the wind prevailing from the southward, we took the 

 advantage of keeping nearer the land in smoother water, 

 until we neared Cape Wrath, when it became calm, with a 

 heavy swell from the northward, which drove us into the 

 Minch, and in close proximity to a very steep island. No 



