MORTON'S STATEMENT. 91 



On the 23rd of June Morton and Hans started, but not before 

 noon, in consequence of a continued gale from the north, but after 

 driving about (! English miles they found the ice along tbe coast 

 quite broken up and impassable. Tbey therefore made a halt with 

 the sledge, and undertook a journey on foot, but returned and en- 

 camped by the sledge. 



The following day, the 24th of June, they started on foot very 

 early in the morning ; their intention was to come past a high cape, 

 behind which there was still hope that they could get a free prospect 

 towards the east, and thus see the end of Greenland. After a very 

 toilsome wandering, as they were sometimes obliged to crawl over 

 cliffs and sometimes to spring over loose floating pieces of ice, they 

 fell in with a she-bear and her cub, which they killed, and then 

 boiled a strengthening dish of the flesh on the spot, as they found 

 some plants and a piece of a sledge, whereof they made a fire. As 

 yet nothing was discovered that could lay the foundation to the 

 above-named theories, and nevertheless all was to be attained before 

 the following day. On account of the importance of the events that 

 occurred between, I will give Morton's statement, as it will be found 

 in the place cited : — 



" After this delay (the bear-hunting) we started in the hope of being able 

 to reach the cape to the north of us. At the very lower end of the bay there 

 was still a little old fast ice over which we went without following the curve 

 of the bay up the fjord, which shortened our distance considerably. Hans 

 became tired, and I sent him more inland where the travelling was less 

 laborious. As I proceeded towards the cape ahead of me the water came again 

 close in-shore. I endeavoured to reach it, but found this extremely difficult, 

 as there were piles of broken rocks rising on the cliffs in many places to the 

 height of 100 feet. The cliffs above these were perpendicular, and nearly 2000 

 feet high. I climbed over the rubbish, but beyond it the sea was washing the 

 foot of the cliffs, and, as there were no ledges, it was impossible for me to 

 advance another foot. I was much disappointed, because one hour's travel 

 would have brought me round the cape. The knob to which I climbed was 

 over 500 feet in height, and from it there was not a speck of ice to be seen. 

 As far as I could discern the sea was open, a swell coming in from the north- 

 ward and running crosswise, as if with a small eastern set. The wind was 

 due north — enough of it to make white caps — and the surf broke in on the 

 rocks below in regular breakers. The sky to the north-west was of dark 

 rain-cloud, the first that 1 had seen since the brig was frozen up. Ivory 

 gulls were nesting in the rocks above me, and out to sea were inolleniokc 

 and silver-backed gulls. The ducks had not been seen north of the first 

 island of the channel, but petrel and _ gulls hung about the waves near the 

 coast." 



" June 25. — As it was impossible to get round the capo 1 retraced my 

 steps," &c. &c. 



