SAILS FOB LABRADOR. 245 



and pen. My wishes directing me to Labrador, I returned 

 eastward with my youngest son, and had the pleasure of being 

 joined by four young gentlemen, all fond of natural history, 

 and willing to encounter the difficulties and privations of the 

 voyage — George Shattuck, Thomas Lincoln, William Ingalls, 

 and Joseph Coolidge." 



The schooner Eipley was chartered at Boston for fifteen 

 hundred dollars for the trip to Labrador. The journal contain- 

 ing the narrative begins at Eastport. 



" June 4, 1843. The day has been fine, and I dined with 

 Captain Childs, commanding the United States troops here. 

 We had a pleasant dinner, but I am impatient to be under 

 weigh for Labrador. The vessel is being prepared for our 

 reception and departure ; and we have concluded to ship two- 

 extra sailors, and a boy, to be a sort of major-domo, to clean our 

 guns, hunt for nests and birds, and assist in skinning them, &c. 

 While rambling in the woods this morning I discovered a crow's 

 nest with five young ones in it, and as I climbed the tree the 

 parents came to the rescue of their children, crying loudly and 

 with such perseverance, that in fifteen minutes more than fifty 

 pairs of these birds had joined in their vociferations, although I 

 saw only a single pair when I began to climb the tree. 



" June 6. We sailed from Eastport about one o'clock p.m., 

 and the whole male population seemed to have turned out to 

 witness our departure, just as if no schooner of the size of the 

 Eipley had ever gone from this mighty port to Labrador; 

 our numerous friends came with the throng, and we all shook 

 hands as if we were never to meet again ; and as we pushed off 

 with a trifling accident or so, the batteries of the garrison and 

 the cannon of the revenue cutter in the stream saluted us with 

 stout, loud, and oft-repeated reports. Captain Coolidge accom- 

 panied us, and was, indeed, our pilot, until we passed Lubec. 

 The wind was light and ahead, and yet with the assistance of 

 the tide we drifted twenty-five miles down to Little Eiver 

 during the night. 



" Jv/ne 7. This morning found us riding at anchor near some 

 ugly-looking rocks, the sight of which caused our captain to try 

 to get out of their way, and the whole morning was spent in 

 trying to get into Little Eiver, but the men were unable to tow 



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