552 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP, the vessel; but the sea ran too high, and the natives not being willing 
to exert themselves, the attempt again failed. The sea was now making 
>Sept. a breach over the vessel, and Mr. Belcher desired the cockswain to cut 
^ the cable, and allow her to come broadside upon shore ; but wdiether 
through feai’, or that the cockswain did not understand his orders, it was 
not done. There were four men and a boy on board at this time, two 
of whom, finding no hope of relief from the shore, jumped overboard, 
with spars in their hands, and attempted to gain the beach, but both 
were unfortunately drowned. The others retreated to the rigging ; 
among them was a boy, whose cries were for some time heard on shore, 
but at length, exhausted with cold and fatigue, he fell from the rigging, 
and was never seen again. 
The party of Esquimaux, who had so reluctantly rendered their 
personal assistance, beheld this loss of lives with the greatest com- 
posure, giving no other aid than that of their prayers and superstitious 
ceremonies ; and seeing the helpless condition of those thrown upon 
the shore, began to pilfer every thing they could, bringing the party 
some fish occasionally, not from charitable motives, but for the purpose 
of engaging their attention, and of affording them a better opportunity 
of purloining the many articles belonging to the boat which were 
washed ashore. About eleven o’clock at night the sea began to subside, 
and at midnight, after very great exertions, a communication with the 
vessel was effected, and the two remaining seamen w'ere carried on shore, 
and laid before the fire, where they recovered sufficiently to be taken 
to a hut near the fatal scene. 
The morning after this unfortunate occurrence, part of the crew 
were employed collecting what was w^ashed on shore, and preventing 
the natives committing further depredations. Seeing there was no 
chance of obtaining any thing more of consequence from the wreck, the 
party took up its quarters on Point Garnet, where we found them on 
our return from Port Clarence. Previous to this, several Esquimaux 
had pitched a tent in the bay close to the party, and lost no opj)ortunity 
of appropriating to themselves whatever they could surreptitiously 
obtain. Among these were four persons whom Mr. Belcher had a 
short time before assisted, when their baidar was thrown on shore, and 
