VOYAGE TO GREENLAND. 
m 
on board and dined ; one of them was a most in- 
telligent, experienced, and successful wliale-fisher, 
from the port of Hull, who gave me much informa- 
tion on the subject of his avocation : the other was 
the commander of a ship from a Scottish port. The 
Caledonian had not been fortunate during this voy- 
age ; and, like many impatient characters, could 
not bear, with Christian fortitude, reverses from 
which he conceived that his experience and perse- 
verance should have exempted him. The wind 
continued to blow from the north with extreme 
violence, and we sailed towards the east. 
A bright sun, whose shining beams ever 
June 15. delight, induced me to rise early, 
and the pleasing sight of a rich blue sky welcomed 
me on deck. The ship appeared to be in a large 
basin, with twenty other vessels, surrounded by a 
horizon that was covered with ice ; part of this 
was a continuation of the field near which we 
had kept during the last two days ; the other part 
was formed of immense pieces connected with it. 
A whale having been seen to retire under the ice, 
the boats from many ships were sent in pursuit, and 
kept under the ridge of the ice watching for its re- 
appearance ; the oddity of the scene was so great, 
that I could not help comparing the boats to cats 
watching at the holes of mice, in readiness to seize 
their prey, as soon as they should have the hardi- 
hood to venture from their places of security. 
The wind having abated during the night, we 
sailed the whole of this day by the side of the ice. 
