178 Our North Land. 



again investigating an inlet not more than five or six miles north- 

 west of the Cape. A boat was sent in as before, and, after remaining 

 for a considerable time, returned with the report of " ten fathoms 

 and no bottom," as far as they had gone. From this, the conclusion 

 was reached that we had at last found an anchorage ; and I am of 

 opinion that, with more care in entering, we might have secured a 

 harbour sufficient to our wants. The Neptune was taken in, " easy 

 a-head," for some distance, then " dead slow," with frequent castings 

 of the lead from her side, when, at fifteen minutes after one o'clock, 

 we struck with considerable force against rocks that must have 

 reached nearly to the surface of the water. The shock was so great 

 that several who were in the cabin at the time were knocked almost 

 entirely off their feet. No great damage, however, was done. The 

 Neptune had a portion of her breast-plates torn away ; but at that 

 point she was about seven feet thick of solid timbers, and. of course, 

 gave no signs of leaking whatever. She was backed away from 

 the enemy at once, and no further effort was made to get in. We 

 coasted along to the Cape, and rounded it at a little distance, rolling 

 and pitching in the sea which had now become quite heavy under 

 the force of the increasing wind ; but the coast presented no signs 

 of affording an anchorage, and Lieut. Gordon decided to abandon 

 the island altogether. The Neptune was accordingly put about and 

 her course was directed towards Cape Chidley. 



We anchored at Port Burwell (Cape Chidley) early on the follow- 

 ing morning, where we found the observer and his men enjoying good 

 health. Their experiences during our absence were not of a remark- 

 able character. The ice had not visited them, and there had been 

 nothing to interrupt their dull monotonous life, except the occasional 

 visits from Eskimos, who came for purposes of trade. 



From Port Burwell the expedition steamed to Nachvak, an inlet 

 on northern Labrador about ninety miles south of Cape Chidley, 

 and established an observing station there, in charge of Mr. William 

 Skynner, of which an account has already been given. 



The voyage from Nachvak to St. John's, N. F., was exceedingly 

 rough, and the ship laboured in the heavy swell for four days ; but on 

 the morning of Saturday, the eleventh day of October, the Neptune 



