52 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 



at the other to capstans, which are fixed on this 

 island; by these means, the headropes are either 

 lowered to the bottom, or raised to the surface 

 of the water, at pleasure : and, being placed about 

 forty yards behind each other, form tw^o pounds. 

 There is a narrow tickle of twenty yards in width, 

 between this island and the continent; across 

 which a net is fixed, to stop the seals from passing 

 through. I shot a raven with my rifle. 



Wednes., December 5, 1770. At eleven o'clock 

 this morning I set off homeward, accompanied by 

 my two men; but separated from them on the top 

 of Twelve o'clock Head. When I came to Cross 

 Pond, I found myself sinking with extreme exer- 

 tion; which I had been obliged to make, to get 

 through the thick, stubborn, bushes, that grew on 

 the West side of the Head. I therefore left my 

 gun, hatchet, and rackets; and also all which my 

 pockets contained. At half after four I got home ; 

 but was so completely worn out with fatigue, that 

 I was scarce able to speak for an hour; and was 

 with difficult}^ kept from fainting, during the 

 greatest part of that time. My attendants found 

 a better way down the hill, and arrived an hour 

 after me, very little worse with their journey. As 

 I did not expect to walk much, I had, unfortu- 

 nately, put on an under waistcoat, and a pair of 

 drawers, made of lambs' skins, with the wool 

 inwards, which heated me most intolerably. 



I found every thing had been neglected in my 

 absence: the beaverhouse was frozen up; the 

 traps and deathfalls choked with snow 5 and only 



