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OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 13 



This circumstance, which has obtained for it the name of "Terra Nivea" 1 821. 

 upon the charts, I do not know how to account for, as the height of the land 

 above the level of the sea cannot certainly much exceed a thousand feet. 



At eight A.M., on the 20th, we cast off and made sail, the ice consisting Frid. 20. 

 of heavy loose masses, generally open enough to allow a ship to sail be- 

 tween them, if favoured by a commanding breeze. The tides here gave us 

 no sort of disturbance, nor could we perceive exactly in what direction 

 they set. The weather was extremely clear and the atmosphere warm and 

 comfortable. A thermometer, freely suspended in the sun, at two P.M., 

 stood at 74°; when placed upon some black-painted lead, on deck, at 116°; 

 and in the shade, at 45°. 



Proceeding slowly to the westward, we had reached at noon on the 21st Sat. 21. 

 the lat. of 61° 50' 13", long., by chronometers 67° 07 35". In this situation 

 several islands were in sight to the northward and westward, and, among the 

 rest, a remarkable one called Saddle-back on account of its shape. The wind 

 backing to the westward in the afternoon, we anchored the ships to the 

 largest floe-piece Ave could find, there not being room to beat to windward. 

 While thus employed we heard voices in-shore, which we soon knew to be 

 those of some Esquimaux coming off to us. Shortly after, several canoes made 

 their appearance ; and seventeen of these people came alongside the Fury. 

 Having hauled their kayaks (canoes) upon the floe, they began to barter 

 their commodities, consisting of seal and whale blubber, whale-bone, spears, 

 lines, and the skins of the seal, bear, fox, deer, and dog. Our first endea- 

 vour was to procure as much oil as possible, of which, as we had been in- 

 formed by the Hudson's Bay ships, several tons are thus almost annually 

 obtained from these people. We soon found that they had been well 

 accustomed to bargain-making, for it was with some difficulty that we 

 could prevail upon them to sell the oil for any thing of reasonable value. 

 They frequently gave us to understand that they wanted saws and har- 

 poons in exchange for it, and as these were articles which Ave could not 

 spare, it Avas not Avithout trouble that Ave obtained, in the course of the even- 

 ing, two barrels of blubber in exchange for several knives, large nails, and 

 pieces of iron hoop, which was certainly a dear bargain on our side. If they 

 saAV more than one of these at a time, they would try hard to get the whole 

 for the commodity they Avere offering, though, Avhen Ave had for some time 

 persisted in refusing, they Avould not only accept Avhat Avas offered, but jump 

 for joy at having obtained it. They ahvays licked the articles given them, 



