OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 



273 



interest, we found the weather becoming- so inclement as to determine us to 1822 - 



July. 



make the best of our way on board, and to take a more favourable opportunity ^r^> 

 of renewing our visit to the Esquimaux. The weather became more severe 

 and the wind drew more directly upon the ice, as we rowed out, so that 

 the signal guns fired occasionally by the ships to point out their situation 

 to us, were less and less distinctly heard. After pulling out for an hour and a 

 half, Captain Lyon, who had a boat's crew composed of officers, and had un- 

 fortunately broken one of his oars, was under the necessity of returning to 

 the shore. My anxiety lest the ships should be ventured too near the shore, 

 from a desire to pick up the boats, induced me to persevere an hour longer, 

 when the wind having increased to a gale, which prevented our hearing any 

 of the guns, I reluctantly bore up for our former landing-place. So rapidly, 

 however, had the sea broken up the whole margin of the land-ice, that this 

 could no longer be recognised, and it was with our utmost exertions that we 

 at length succeeded in reaching any part of the fixed floe, in consequence of 

 the quantity of loose and drifting masses now occupying its margin. In 

 forcing through these, the boat was stove by a sharp corner of a piece of ice, 

 and was full of water up to the thwarts when we reached the grounded ice. 

 After repairing this damage and securing the boat, we walked to the shore, 

 where I was happy to see the Hecla's boat safely hauled up. Captain Lyon 

 and his party having quartered themselves at the southern tents, we took up 

 our lodgings at the others, to which we were welcomed in the kindest and 

 most hospitable manner. That we might incommode the Esquimaux as little 

 as possible, we divided into parties of two in each tent, though they would 

 willingly have accommodated twice that number. Immediately on our arrival, 

 they offered us dry boots, and it was not long before we were entirely " rigged 

 out " in their dresses, which, thoroughly drenched as we were by the sea, 

 proved no small comfort to us. With these, and a seal-skin or two as a 

 blanket, we kept ourselves tolerably warm during a most inclement night ; and 

 the tents, which but a few hours before we had looked upon as the most com- 

 fortless habitations imaginable, now afforded us a sufficient and most accept- 

 able shelter. 



The evening was passed in dealing out our information from the southward, 

 and never did any arrival excite more anxious inquiries than those we were 

 now obliged to answer. So intimate was the knowledge we possessed re- 

 specting many of their relationships, that by the help of a memorandum book in 

 which these had been inserted, I believe we almost at times excited a degree 



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