Arrival at Upemivik. 95 



but a thick snow storm made this impossible. 

 Early in the morning we passed several islets, and at 

 about eight o'clock we made fast with an ice anchor 

 to the land ice off the island of Opernivik, one of 

 a group named by Baffin, during his remarkable 

 voyage in 1616 round the bay which bears his 

 name, the Vrouw or Woman Islands. The "Erik" 

 followed soon after, making fast to a berg aground 

 off the settlement. 



Several Esquimaux kept pace in their swiftly 

 gliding kayaks as we steamed in ; and it was sur- 

 prising to witness the velocity with which these 

 frail-looking barks were propelled by their skilful 

 occupants, who, with their long shaggy and un- 

 kempt locks falling over their shoulders, and their 

 general wild and excessively dirty appearance, were 

 more like some amphibious animals than human 

 beings. Immediately the ship was secured we went 

 on shore for the purpose of paying our respects to 

 the Governor and Chief Trader, Dr. Rudolph, by 

 whom we were most cordially received and hospi- 

 tably entertained. What appeared to cause the 

 good doctor the greatest annoyance was our in- 

 capacity (though some of our party acquitted them- 

 selves tolerably well) , to keep perpetually drinking 

 port wine, sherry, rum, brandy, beer, and absinthe, 

 all of which he insisted upon our partaking in an 

 indiscriminate manner ; and had we remained on 

 shore longer than we did, the consequences would 

 undoubtedly have been disastrous. ~No European 



