320 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP, occasioned by the steep and high land of the cape. The bubble and violent 
agitation of the sea exceeded any idea of the kind we had formed, and 
Narrative bi’oke over the boat in every direction. We had no method ofextri- 
Ba^ge. eating her. The gusts of wind that came from every quarter lasting but a 
moment, left us no prospect of getting clear. We were at this time about 
two miles from the land. The wind in shore of us blew with astonishing 
violence ; the eddies from the hills making whirlwinds which carried up 
the spray equal in height to the mountain. However, by four p. m., what 
with a slight current, and taking advantage of every flaw, we gained an 
offing of four miles, and, to prevent being set farther to the northward, 
anchored: — a heavy sea running, but little wind. We had not been 
more than half an hour in this situation when it blew again from the 
same point with redoubled violence. With some difficulty we lifted our 
anchor and made sail in for the land. As we approached it, the gusts came 
very strong off the hills, notwithstanding which we carried a press of 
sail to regain an anchorage. For an hour and a half we were literally 
sailing through a sea of spray. At six, having closed^ well with the land, 
we anchored and rode out the gale. This evening Mr. Elson put the 
crew on half an allowance of provisions. 
Wednesday, 6th Sept. Early in the morning we observed an altera- 
tion in the weather. The clouds collecting fast from the N. W. led us to 
expect the wind from that quarter. At ten a. m., the wind becoming 
variable and moderate, weighed, and by three in the afternoon, to our 
inexpressible joy, got round the windy promontory of Cape Lisburn. The 
crew were again put on their former allowance ; and we made all sail, 
with an increasing breeze to the southward. Passing the cape, we ob- 
served five baidars hauled up and one tent, but saw few of the natives. 
It had been Mr. Elson's intention to look into the bight on the 
northern side of Point Hope ; but the sea was so high and the weather 
so threatening that we kept well off, in order to weather the point. 
We noticed the water, whilst off“ Marryat Creek, to be of a very muddy 
colour, as if some river discharged itself there. By nine r. m. we rounded 
the point and steered S. S. E., to have a good offing in case the wind 
should again come from the westward. 
Thursday, 7th Sept. The weather seemed determined to persecute 
