Continued thick Weather. 247 



that in consequence of our meeting them we shall 

 see no whales for some time. Their blast is much 

 heavier than that of a narwhal. No one on board 

 this ship has ever seen one of these sword fish 

 caught. The ice both yesterday and to-day has 

 been drifting rapidly to the northward, that is, out 

 of the inlet, and is also breaking up quickly, and in 

 a few days, if we remain, I expect open water will 

 be visible as far as it is possible for us to see up the 

 inlet. 



Friday, August 8th. — A miserable, cloudy, wet 

 day. I almost wish winter would set in, as rain 

 on board these ships is most disagreeable — far 

 worse than snow. Shoals of grampus were seen 

 to-day, which is, I am afraid, a strong indication 

 that we shall get no whales for some time. Our 

 worthy skipper is somewhat changeable in his 

 plans and ideas. Yesterday he was all for going 

 north and visiting the " Polaris;" to-day he is 

 going to remain in Regent's Inlet until the end of 

 this month, and push up to the head of the Gulf 

 of Boothia as far as Committee Bay. Whichever 

 he does will afford me great pleasure, though I 

 should prefer the former. This thick weather is 

 much against taking observations. I must hope 

 for a change for the better when we get upon un- 

 explored ground. 



Sunday, August 10th, 3 a.m. — I have just re- 

 turned on board from a long - , cold, wearisome pull 



