GREENLAND. 273 



that tlicic lay in the Tent, and fastening a Grapuell Roape 

 unto it, out launch't wee our Boate to row towards them. 

 Comming something neere them, wee perceived them to be 

 fast a-sleepe : which my sclfe, then steering tlie Boate, first 

 perceiving, spake to the rowers to hokl still their Oares, for 

 feare of awaking them with the crashing of the yce ; and I, 

 skulling the Boate easily along, came so neere at length 

 unto them, that the Shallops even touch'd one of them. At 

 nvhich instant, William Fakely being ready with his Harping 

 Iron, heav'd it so strongly into the old one, that hee quite 

 disturbed her of her rest : after which, shee receiving five 

 or sixe thrusts with our lances, fell into a sounder sleepe 

 of death. Thus having despach't the old one, the younger 

 being loath to leave her damme, continued swimming so 

 long about our Boate, that with our lances we kill'd her 

 also. Haling them both after this into the Boate, we rowed 

 a-shoare, flayed our Sea-horses, cut them in pieces to roast 

 and eate them. The nineteenth of the same moneth we 

 saw other Sea-horses, sleeping also in like manner upon 

 severall pieces of yce ; but the weather being cold, they de- 

 sired not to sleepe so much as before, and therefore could 

 wee kill but one of them, of which one being right glad, we 

 returned again into our Tent. 



The nights at this time, and the cold weather increased so 

 ftist upon us, that wee were out of all hopes of getting any 

 more foode before the next Spring ; our onely hopes were 

 to kill a Beare now and then, that might by chance wander 

 that way.* The next day, therefore, taking an exacter survey 

 of all our victuals, and finding our proportion too small by 

 halfe, for our time and companie, we agreed among our 

 selves to come to an Allowance, that is, to stint our selves 

 to one reasonable meale a day, and to keepe Wednesdayes 

 and Fridayes Fasting dayes, excepting from the Frittars or 

 Graves of the Whale (a very loathsome meate) of which 

 we allowed our selves sufficient to suffice our present hun- 



35 



