824 LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS 
ice a passage to the westward could be found. It has been seen 
by what gradual steps the information was obtained, respecting 
the position in which the Victory then lay, and how frequent 
were4he delays, and how almost insurmountable were the obsta¬ 
cles, which they had to encounter in working her up to her pre¬ 
sent moorings. Nr> account, however detailed, can convey an 
adequate idea of the anxiety, w ith which each scrap of information 
was sought after and received, or the daily and hourly mortifi¬ 
cation attendant on each fresh delay, and that it was not without 
considerable mental solicitude as w r ell as physical exertion, that 
the passage to the westward had been thus far effected. In pro¬ 
portion to the labour and disappointments, which the attainment 
of the object had hitherto cost, so was the reluctance that was 
felt in admitting even an abandonment, and the hope was still 
active in their breasts that some favourable alteration might 
yet occur, so as to throw a more cheering prospect over the 
future. 
Commander Ross having received several proofs of kindness 
from the Esquimaux, allowed them to accompany him on board, 
where they were regaled with a sumptuous dish of baked seal, 
and two quarts of water to each man. Having received the sti¬ 
pulated reward for the seal, the Esquimaux departed, so grati¬ 
fied with their reception that they determined to renew their 
visit on the following day, when Capt. Ross was again made the 
dupe of their cunning and duplicity. At about II o’clock on 
the 14th, the Esquimaux were seen approaching with a very fine 
sledge drawn by six of the handsomest dogs, which had been yet 
seen in the country. They brought with them about forty pounds 
of musk ox flesh, which had been buried under the snow since 
July of the preceeding year. It consisted of two pieces, but 
they were frozen so hard, that it was impossible to tell from what 
part of the animal they were cut. The price obtained for these 
two dainty bits, and which like the trout were destined to smoke 
on the table of Capt. Ross, was a knife and a pair of scissars, of 
the value of Is. 2d. It must however be observed, that Capt. 
Ross insisted upon a young seal being included in the bargain, 
which was ultimately agreed to by the Esquimaux, though not 
