76 ARCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



afterward Went away limping, with a remark, " That man may be 

 a good dancer" (I never danced before in all my life), "but he's 

 very heavy and far-reaching on his pedals !" As for the dan- 

 cing, let me honestly confess that I felt the better for it. I am 

 sure that many evils in my nature then found a way out at my 

 feet. 



After the ball on deck, we succeeded in getting up some sing- 

 ing below in the cabin. Among the Esquimaux, the schoolmas- 

 ter — who is really a capital fellow — was the leader, and his sing- 

 ing was truly excellent. There was, however, this singularity in it 

 — many of the songs were to church tunes ! On our side, we had 

 the national airs " Hail Columbia," " Star-spangled Banner," etc., 

 which were vociferously cheered. While the latter was sung, I 

 raised the silk emblem of our beloved country that was given me 

 by a dear one at home to erect over Franklin's grave. The school- 

 master, finding in "Boss's Second Yoyage" some Esquimaux 

 verses, first read and then sang them most admirably. 



During the whole evening unbounded happiness reigned on 

 board. Several presents were made, especially to the schoolmas- 

 ter's wife, who received them with much modesty and pleasure. 

 At length the party broke up, when our visitors departed for the 

 shore in their numerous kyacks and family boats. 



On the 18th of July occurred the sun's eclipse. The view in 

 Holsteinborg Harbor was fine, though a part of the time it was ob- 

 scured by clouds. The Esquimaux were generally out looking 

 at it with pieces of glass dipped in water ! 



A singular fact in connection with this eclipse was told me by 

 Mate Eogers. He said that " during it he and his party could 

 catch no fish, though before and after it there was abundance ob- 

 tained !" 



In the afternoon it began to blow a gale, and at the time nearly 

 all hands were away on some duty or other. Mate Eogers and 



men were catching cod in Davis's Straits, and only Captain B , 



myself, and the young seaman, John Brown, were on board. The 

 vessel began to drag her anchor, and, though we contrived to drop 

 another, yet we were within a stone's throw of the rocky coast 

 before she again held on. The three of us worked for our lives. 

 John Brown put forth the strength of a giant, and myself and the 

 captain did the same. Meantime our crew on shore had hastened 

 off in a boat, and the governor had, in the midst of the gale, kind- 

 ly sent another boat, with his superintendent and men, to our as- 



