182 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. SEPTEMBER 



and off the Disco coast to 38, that at a depth of forty- 

 five fathoms being 32*5. 



On rounding the south-western point of Disco on 

 the 25th we found the sea abounding in life : nume- 

 rous finner whales, porpoises, and seals. Large flocks 

 of eider ducks and dovekies in their winter plumage 

 were feeding in this highly favoured locality. 



On entering the well-known anchorage of Lievely 

 we were warmly welcomed by our kind friends, Mr. 

 and Mrs. Krarup Smith and Mr. and Mrs. Fencker, 

 who informed us that the 'Pandora' had left for 

 England only four days previously. 



We remained two days at Disco, Mr. Smith kindly 

 supplying us with a small quantity of coal. The 

 weather felt to us extraordinarily mild, the tempera- 

 ture ranging from 40 to 48. It appears that this 

 harbour is never frozen over before the end of No- 

 vember, and is often open until January. Ships there- 

 fore need not fear when running for the port late in the 

 season, or of making a passage to the southward if 

 they keep in the warm stream near the Greenland 

 shore. 



Owing to the shortness and uncertainty of the cold 

 season the settlement on the Whale Fish Islands has 

 lately been abandoned. Thick ice certain to remain 

 stationary affords a safer fishing-ground for the Eskimo 

 than a warmer station with thin ice liable to be 

 broken up. 



At Disco the salmon fishing ends with the freezing 

 of the shore lakes in October ; but cod can be pro- 

 cured all the winter. 



Hans Heindrich and Frederick were landed at 



