28 WAIGAT STKAIT — COALING. Chap. 11. 



"We now hastened away to the Waigat Strait 

 to complete our coals. When passing God- 

 liaven, the pilot was launched off our deck in 

 his little kayak without stopping the ship ! As 

 a kayak is usually about 18 feet long, 8 inches 

 deep, and only 16 or 17 inches wide, it requires 

 great expertness to perform such a feat without 

 the addition of a capsize. 



4M August. — Entered the "Waigat yesterday 

 morning, slowly steaming through a sea of glass. 

 Its surface was only rippled by the myriads of 

 eider-ducks which extended over it for several 

 miles : most of them were immature in plumage, 

 and were probably the birds of last year. 



After running about 24 miles, towards even- 

 ing we approached a low range of sandstone 

 cliffs on the Disco shore, in which horizontal 

 seams of coal were seen. Here we anchored, 

 and immediately commenced coaling. It was 

 fortunate we did so, for soon it began to blow 

 hard ; and ere noon to-day we were obliged, for 

 the safety of the ship, to leave our exposed 

 anchorage, having however secured eight or 

 nine tons of tolerable coal. Formerly these 

 coal-seams were worked for the supply of the 

 neighbouring settlements, but for several years 

 past it has been found more profitable and con- 

 venient to send out coals from Denmark, and 



