80 Disco. 



a mile in circumference, and from three to four 

 hundred feet in height. At half-past five we passed 

 the Whale Fish Islands, so named from the supposed 

 resemblance that they bear to the head and back of 

 enormous whales lying on the surface of the water. 

 They are also called the Kron-Prins Islands. 



Formerly a settlement was- established on one of 

 these; but it has, I believe, of late years been aban- 

 doned. 



The high land of Disco, which is a little over 

 twenty miles from these islands, rose rugged and 

 bleak, the summit of the hills being covered with a 

 deep and impervious mantle of snow. Shortly after 

 7 p.m., passing close to the rocks on the south side, 

 we shortened sail and steamed into the snug har- 

 bour of Lievely, anchoring off the picturesque little 

 settlement where the Chief Inspector of North 

 Greenland resides, an officer holding his commission 

 direct from the King of Denmark. On the beach, 

 on the north side as we entered, were lying the 

 remains of the English whaler " Wildfire," which 

 had been run on shore some years previously, after 

 having sustained severe " nips " in Baffin's Bay. 

 She is now a complete wreck. It was not long 

 before several boats full of Esquimaux came along- 

 side, all anxious to troch, or barter. Slippers and 

 tobacco-pouches made of sealskin were the prin- 

 cipal articles brought off, for which were sought in 

 exchange powder, shot, coffee, shirts, and trowsers. 



