THE LAST CRUISE OF THE MIRANDA. 57 



perched in the shrouds, and reported open places visible 

 in a westerly direction. Slowly the ship picked its way 

 through the ice-belt, and by half-past seven we got through 

 the floe and into clear water, leaving a long line of ice 

 behind. 



It was now decided to run up to Disco, rather than try to 

 get in at Frederickshaab. But again the fog fell around us on 

 the ensuing day, and we drifted about, making little progress. 

 We were in latitude 62° 50', and longitude 53° 49'. When- 

 ever the fog lifted we could see icebergs about us — which 

 made the captain very careful ; and for some days we kept 

 drifting about, mostly in fog so dense that no observations 

 could be taken. On the morning of August 7, to our sur- 

 prise and joy, we discovered that we were in sight of land — 

 rugged and uninviting, to be sure, but still land. High 

 mountains, with towering peaks covered with snow, and 

 bleak and barren islands, were outlined in the distance. 

 There was but little ice in sight, and we headed for the shore, 

 with our whistle blowing to attract the attention of any inhab- 

 itants, should there prove to be a settlement upon this coast. 

 For an hour or so we lay to, blowing our whistle and firing 

 the cannon. After a while two little specks were seen afar 

 off, and ere long were made out to be Eskimo kayaks. Be- 

 fore long a large boat hove in sight, and made directly for the 

 ship. Soon it was alongside of us, and proved to contain sev- 

 eral Eskimos, who came on board and piloted our vessel into a 

 snug little harbor surrounded by islands. Here was a settle- 

 ment, and on a hill we saw a flagstaff flying the Danish flag, 

 and collected about it a crowd of Eskimos, men and women — 

 mostly the latter, who apparently were in a great state of ex- 

 citement, and were looking down at us with every indication 

 of curiosity and interest. Little houses or igloos were perched 

 about on the rocky hills, and near the landing was the more 

 commodious house of the Danish governors. The place proved 



