114 
VOYAGE TO GREENLAND. 
were seen and two boats sent after them : one was 
struck and brought on board, which was thirteen 
feet long, and its horn two feet ; many of these fish 
and a large tinner whale being seen, I went after 
them without effect. As I returned I went on board 
several of the ships which were in company, to 
submit my plan to them, and to procure any curious 
subject for the advancement of natural history. In 
one of them, it being calm, several masters had met 
to regale themselves (called in Greenland Mul- 
limorking) ; among them was the master of the 
Thornton, which in May last, as already mentioned, 
had been wrecked near Spitzbergen. From this 
meeting I collected much information, both regard- 
ing the fisheries and other circumstances connected 
with the arctic regions ; more particularly as they 
respected the destruction of vessels by the pressure 
of the ice. I listened with uncommon attention to 
the recital of fatal accidents of this nature, and 
felt deeply for the misfortunes of those who had 
been sufferers from such calamities ; I could not, at 
the same time, however, refrain from astonishment 
at the indifference of conduct, and keen enjoyment 
amidst the hilarity of the meeting, which were 
evinced by the master of the Thornton. I after- 
wards visited a ship from Bremen in the hope of 
collecting some useful information ; or at least to 
make observations on board a foreign ship that might 
be conducive to my country’s benefit : the com- 
mander of this ship (the Yon Beur) was perfectly 
familiar with my name, and my reason for visiting 
