On the Fishing Ground. 119 



chaos of empty bottles, broken pipes and glasses, 

 and cigar ashes, inhaling a strong perfume of stale 

 tobacco. And the cause of all this is, we have 

 had a " mollie." It has now terminated, and I am 

 left in sole possession of the cabin, attempting* to 

 write on the table, garnished in the manner de- 

 scribed. 



But, to account for our dissipation, I must state, 

 that, at about 1 p.m. the weather, with one of those 

 rapid changes so peculiar to these regions, suddenly 

 cleared up, revealing to our view the land along the 

 south side of Lancaster Sound, high and covered 

 with snow, and around us in different directions no 

 less than five whalers. 



A boat was lowered, and we went on board the 

 " Esquimaux," which ship we knew had left Dun- 

 dee a fortnight after us, receiving from her kind 

 commander a large bundle of letters and news- 

 papers. Making our visit as short as was com- 

 patible with courtesy, we hurried on board, and 

 were soon deeply engrossed with news from home. 



At about 7 p.m. our hospitable skipper hoisted a 

 bucket at the mizen- top-gallant mast-head, which, 

 it seems, is a signal, when no boats are away, that 

 the master of the ship displaying such bucket is 

 desirous of having a " lnollie." In a very short 

 time we were boarded by the various captains, 

 some of whom were accompanied by their surgeons. 

 Then ensued the usual scene, plenty of talk about 



