308 NOTES. 



That such a result should uot be exceedingly trying to the 

 feelings of our people, who saw that their competitors had 

 won the prize which we had first declined, was more than 

 could be expected. Nevertheless, both the trial of their obe- 

 dience and the exercise of their patience were so sustained 

 as to be at once satisfactory to me and creditable to them- 

 selves. Their minds, in general, seemed disposed to admit 

 the principle on which we acted; for, in addition to the re- 

 ligious sanctions, their repeated experiences had testified that 

 the principle was acknowledged by heaven. 



It was my intention to have " cast off'," the morning of Mon- 

 day, to explore the navigable spaces of the ice to the west- 

 ward with a view to the furtherance of our voyage ; but the 

 day being still stormy, with constant thick weather from snow, 

 sleet, or rain, we found it expedient to remain in somewhat 

 anxious idleness, while our successful comrades were joyous- 

 ly and usefully occupied in flensing the valuable fish obtain- 

 ed almost under our stern. This was doubtless an additional 

 trial of the good feelings of our crew ; but whatever might 

 be the regrets of any in yielding up, for conscience' sake, our 

 chance of so fine a prize, I heard of no other dissatisfaction 

 than the mere expression of a natural anxiety to be under 

 weigh, that we might find a fish for ourselves. 



The state of the weather, however, induced us to continue 

 at our moorings till forced off by the movements of the con- 

 tiguous ices, which threatened the safety of the ship. Soon 

 afterward we set forward on our object; and having made a 

 stretch to the westward, all hands were speedily called into 

 exhilarating action by the discovery of several whales. The 

 eagerness of the men, indeed, was, in the first instance, against 

 us; more than one of the objects of their anxiety being un- 

 necessarily scared, for want of that wise and considerate 

 prudence which, under the circumstances, was peculiarly 

 needed to temper and direct their excited zeal. At length, 

 however, after a variety of mortifying failures, a harpoon was 

 ebly struck ; and though the boat received a desperate heave, 



