APPENDIX. 



589 



whole crew and officers, in five boats, to make the best of their way toward St. John's, 

 Newfoundland. Leaving the island on the 26th of July, they crossed down to Reso- 

 lution Island 28th, when a stress of weather and much ice caused them to land on 

 the rocks, where they were detained for four days, at the end of which time they 

 launched toward Button Island, on the opposite side of the straits, distant 50 miles ; 

 but, owing to calms and head winds, were thrown back near Resolution Island, and 

 surrounded by a pack of ice. This closed together so quick upon their boats that 

 they had but just time enough to haul them up on the ice and save them from being 

 crushed to pieces. Three of them were slightly stove. They remained on the ice 

 three hours before it got so still that they could launch with safety and make for the 

 shore, which the last two boats reached in time to shun a gale that came on sudden- 

 ly. Here the boats were detained for ten days, both ice and wind bound, and the 

 rain scarcely ceased during the time, making their situation very uncomfortable. On 

 the 10th of August they launched again, and proceeded on the voyage. Owing to 

 lack of wind, they had to toil with oars for twelve hours, when with a breeze came 

 fog and rain, that soon wet and chilled all hands. They then sailed among ice, mak- 

 ing a course as well as they could toward Button Island, which they were unable to 

 reach for ice. On the night of the 11th two of the boats got separated in thick, dark 

 weather, and on the morning of the 12th a gale of wind came on, which, together 

 with a high sea, discomfited the boats not a little. Consulting one another how best 

 to proceed for safety, it was decided to run for land, which was distant 25 miles. On 

 running toward the land, they came to a heavy pack of ice, through which it was nec- 

 essary to go, if possible, to reach the land, it being their only way of safety. They 

 sailed on, and fortunately found the ice so slack that the boats could run among it — 

 still heading for the land, which now appeared only about six miles, though it was 

 much farther off, and presented nothing but perpendicular cliffs, up which it would 

 be impossible for man to climb, and no prospect of saving the boats, without which 

 there would be no chance of escape from the barren island, where they might have 

 been delivered from the jaws of the ocean only to starve. So they held another con- 

 sultation. In all eyes their hope seemed forlorn, and their hearts sank within them 

 as the gale increased and the sea arose. Then all were ready to give up in despair, 

 when, lo ! a sail appeared — a tiny sail — and they rejoiced that the lost boats were 

 still afloat. With the aid of a glass they made out a schooner, for which they steer- 

 ed with joyful hearts, and, after a long time, were discovered by her captain and 

 kindly received. It was then found that, two hours before, she had picked up the 

 missing boats. Thus all were providentially drawn together, and delivered out of 

 much danger." 



VII. 



BoWs Measurement. — Page 276. 

 Kingwatcheung's (Bob's) measurement was as follows : 



38 inches around his body, over the breast. 



42 inches around his shoulders, over his arms. 



15 inches around his neck. 



22 inches around his head. 



5 feet 2 inches in height. 



5 feet 3 inches from finger tip to finger tip. 

 He was probably from 40 to 45 years of age. 



VIII. 



Frobisher''s Expeditions. — Page 279. 

 Frobisher left England on the 15th of June, 1576, with three vessels — the Gabriel, 

 a bark of twenty-five tons ; the Michael, a bark of twenty tons ; and a pinnace, of 

 ten tons. On the 11th of July "he had sight of an high and ragged land," which 

 was the southern part of Greenland ; but he was kept from landing by ice and fogs. 

 Not far from that point his pinnace, with four men, was lost. "Also the other barke. 

 named the Michael, mistrusting the matter, conveyed themselves privily away from 



