194 



SECOND VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 



^1822^ we nac [ f ur ther proofs of the wretchedness which these poor people were en- 

 ^v-J during at the huts ; for, though the weather was very little better than before, 

 above forty men and women besides some children came down to the ships, 

 and begged with more than their usual earnestness for something to eat. It 

 now once more became an act of humanity, and consequently of duty, to 

 supply them as well as we were able ; and all were admitted to partake of as 

 much bread-dust as they could eat, besides a quantity which they took away 

 with them. It had been long since Okotook and Iligliuk cared to accept 

 this kind of food from us, partly because our respect for the latter generally 

 ensured them something better, and partly because of late they had procured 

 plenty of seals ; to-day, however, they devoured it eagerly, and seemed 

 very well satisfied to take their share with the others, When the usual time 

 of departure came, they all discovered a wish to remain on board ; but as we 

 could not find lodging for the whole tribe, they were obliged very reluctantly 

 to return. Nannow, a fine quiet young man whose native country is near 

 Chesterfield Inlet, and who, having only a sister here, used to live with 

 Okotook, begged very hard to remain on board, but as I did not like to give 

 the preference to one in particular, he also took his leave. 



The wind abated towards night, after a gale which, both for duration and 

 strength, might well be called equinoctial. The indications of the barometer 

 on this occasion deserve to be noticed. The mercury had fallen with un- 

 usual rapidity from 29.46 inches at four P.M. on the 14th, to 28.80 at eight 

 A.M. on the 15th, at which time the gale may be said to have commenced. 

 What was remarkable, however, is that this was its minimum, and that from 

 this time the mercury almost constantly, though very slowly, rose to 29.19 

 on the evening of the 17th, when the wind moderated. On the following 

 day, the 18th, when the weather was quite fine, the barometer rose very 

 quickly to 29.84 at midnight, and continued to rise till it had reached its 

 maximum, 30 inches, on the evening of the 19th. It may be interesting to 

 notice that, during this three days' gale, which was certainly well calculated 

 to try the merits of our warming stove, the mean temperature of the Fury's 

 lower deck had been from 58° to 62°, and that the thermometer had never 

 stood lower than 56°. The temperature of the sick-bay was always above 60°. 

 Mon. 18. On the 18th, almost every man from the huts was out seal-hunting, and 

 three or four, as the women informed us, had gone to a considerable distance 

 for walruses, and with the intention of remaining out for the night in a snow 

 hut. While the men were thus employed, their wives did not fail to use 



