STORMY WBATHRR. 271 



" JuTif 8. Eainy, dirty weather, wind east, thermometer 48°. 

 Began drawing at half-past three a.m, but my condition Tery 

 disagreeable in such weather. The fog collects and falls in large 

 drops from the rigging on my table, and now and then I am 

 obliged. to close the skylight, and work almost in darkness. Not- 

 withstanding, I have finished my plate of the cock ptarmigan. 



" July 9. The wind east, wet, disagreeable, and foggy. This 

 is the most wonderful climate in the world ; the thermometer 

 52°, mosquitoes in profusion, plants blooming by millions, and 

 at every step you tread on flowers such as would be looked on 

 in more temperate climates with pleasure. I only wish I could 

 describe plants as well as I can the habits of birds. I have 

 drawn all day on the loon, a most difficult bird to imitate. 



" July 10. Thermometer 54°. Could I describe one of those 

 dismal gales which blow ever and anon over this dismal 

 country, it would probably be interesting to any one unac- 

 quainted with the inclemency of this climate. Nowhere else 

 are the north-east blasts, which sweep over Labrador, felt as 

 they are here. But I cannot describe them. All I can say is, 

 that while we are safe in a land-locked harbour, their effects on 

 our vessel are so strong, that they will not allow me to draw, 

 and sometimes send some of us to our beds. And what the 

 force of these horrid blasts outside of the harbour at sea is I 

 can hardly imagine ; but it seems as if it would be impossible 

 for any vessel to ride safely before them, and that they will 

 rend these rocky islands asunder. The rain is driven in sheets, 

 and falls with difficulty upon its destination of sea or land. 

 Nay, I cannot call it rain, as it is such a thick cloud of water, 

 that all objects at a distance are lost sight of at intei-vals of 

 three or four minutes, and the waters around us come up and 

 beat about in our rock-bound harbour, as a newly caught and 

 caged bird beats against the wire walls of his prison cage. 



" July 11. The gale or hurricane of yesterday subsided about 

 midnight, and at sunrise this morning the sky was clear and 

 the horizon fiery red. It was my intention to have gone one 

 hundred miles further north, but our captain says I must be 

 content here. 



" On rambling over the numerous bays and inlets, which are 

 scattered by thousands along this coast, as pebbles are on a 



