A Strong Gale. 261 



ment of our homeward journey. The poor little 

 bear seems to be in a very miserable state, but 

 whether it is in consequence of its captivity, sea- 

 sickness, or pining- for its mother, it is difficult to 

 say. 



Saturday, August IQth-. — Yesterday was the most 

 trying day I have spent on board the " Arctic" 



The wind had gradually increased to a strong 

 gale, accompanied by a heavy sea. As we had 

 come out without making the necessary preparations 

 for bad weather, we were in a pretty pickle. I had 

 not long been in bed when, about 2 a.m., the captain 

 burst into my cabin, and with his usual, " Are you 

 waking, captain ? " informed me that the dingy had 

 been washed away, and one of the whale boats badly 

 stove. Going on deck, I found things were not 

 quite so bad as represented. The little dingy on 

 being hoisted in-board, was found only slightly 

 damaged ; the barometer was very low, lower than 

 we have experienced this cruise ; it was blowing hard 

 from the southward, and the ship labouring heavily 

 under reefed topsails and foresail. Between decks 

 everything was in a sad state: tanks, whalebone,- 

 and seamen's chests were lying about in fearful con- 

 fusion, and it was with no little difficulty that the 

 .things could be properly secured. To-day affairs 

 are looking a little brighter ; both wind and sea 

 have gone down considerably, though the barometer 

 still remains unusually low. At 2 p.m. we found 



