VOYAGE TO GREENLAND. 
19 
of the boat from us. The ship being in a bay, whose 
boundary was impenetrable ice, with a gale blow- 
ing into it, the probable capture of a whale became 
a consideration of minor importance, in the breast 
of our prudent and experienced commander, than 
the hazard to which the ship and boats might be 
exposed. I must here add a circumstance that now 
occurred and regulated, in some measure, the deter- 
mination of relinquishing the pursuit, and to which 
I respectfully direct the particular notice of every 
commander of a vessel at sea. Captain Scoresby 
being constant in his observance of that faithful 
monitor, the barometer, which will warn the unwary 
by its depression in approaching storms, saw that 
it foretold an impending gale ; as such, he called 
the boat in, took in superfluous sails, and got the 
ship under close-reefed topsails and courses. This 
act of judgment was among the numerous proofs 
which I witnessed of his professional attention ; as 
it soon after blew with greater violence than it had 
hitherto done during our voyage, and continued 
with, what is very unusual in this frozen region, tor- 
rents of rain all night. Thermometer, at noon, 15°. 
The wind having blown hard from the 
^ * south-east, all the day before, at length 
changed to the north-west, and again gathered to 
a storm with a high rolling sea. The gale abating 
about six, p.m., numerous flocks of small birds 
called Rotges, [AlcaAlle, Linn.,) were seen in every 
direction, flying, swimming, and diving; and by their 
appearance bespeaking our approach to ice. At 
C 2 
