PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
315 
obtain the iron; from which situation, should we visit this coast next CHAP, 
year, she might with little trouble be raised. The stores and rigging 
also we resolved to bury, and to leave directions where they might be Narrative 
found. On visiting the village (which was about half a mile distant), 
the natives were uncommonly civil. They resided in tents, the frames 
of which were made with poles, and covered with seal-skins : the bottom 
or floor was merely a few logs laid sidewise on the ground : inside there 
w'as a second lining of rein-deer’s skin, which did not reach quite to 
the top : this constituted the whole of their dwelling. Their principal 
food appeared to be rein-deer and seal’s flesh ; and having procured 
more than sufficient of these animals for present use, they had buried 
the overplus in the sand, to be kept until required. They very 
generously led us to a seal that had been thus deposited. The flesh 
and blubber which had been separated were wrapped in the skin, 
and was in a most disgusting oily state. One of them put in his hand, 
stirred up the contents, and offered us some, the sight of which alone 
was enough to turn one’s stomach. He seemed to pity our want of 
taste, and sucked his fingers with the greatest relish. Each of the 
crew having provided himself with native boots, &c. for travelling in, 
returned to the boat. During the night the gale abated and the wind 
fell almost calm, and it began to freeze hard. Wherever there was any 
opening before, the water was covered with young ice. The tide here 
rose and fell from eighteen to twenty inches : — the time of change very 
irregular, probably influenced by the ice. 
Saturday, 26th Aug. Our chance of getting clear seemed more re- 
mote now than ever, and we commenced making preparations for the 
land journey. The crew were sent on shore to exercise their hmbs, and 
train themselves for walking. We traced the windings of the river 
for some distance ; the banks were high on each side. It seemed deep, and 
its turnings frequent and sudden. The only animal we saw was a red 
fox, which avoided our pursuit. In the evening returned to the boat 
the weather still frosty. 
Sunday, 27th Aug. A sharp frost during the night, attended with 
frozen particles, which fell like dust, and covered our clothes. The 
wind light from the S. W., with a thick fog. The freshwater ponds were 
s s 2 
