576 
LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
those high latitudes, by the different quarters, from which it 
blew on this day. In the morning, it blew from the north; at 
2 f.m. it blew from the south-west; at 4, from the east, and at 
5, from the north-north-west, blowing a very heavy gale. 
The gales from the N.N.W continued till the 14th, but the 
crew were sent out on the ice, to clear away the lines and 
hawsers, that were frozen in the young ice, and then laying them 
on the ice, so as to be all clear, in case of the ship making a 
move. The ice-tools were also got in readiness; for it was 
apprehended that if the ice were not removed from her sides, 
she might on the first motion receive a nip, similar to that, which 
she experienced on her first entering the bay, and which placed 
her in the most imminent danger. 
On the 15th, three hands were sent to the hills, to take obser¬ 
vations of the state of the ice, and on their return, they reported, 
that it was closely packed, far beyond the mouth of the bay. 
On their way to the hills, they set the ermine trap, but it was 
more as a matter of amusement, than from any expectation, that 
any great profit or advantage could be derived from the skin of 
so small an animal. The fur, however, being of a very close 
nature, was worn by the officers round their necks, and a super¬ 
stitious notion was also attached to it, that he, who wears an 
ermine’s skin, was never known to die of cold. 
Some apprehensions were now entertained, that they would 
be obliged to kill the dogs, from the want of food; no Esqui¬ 
maux came to the ship, laden with the seal and walrus flesh, 
nor had any seal been seen for some time, in that part of the 
country. It was, however, on an excursion, which Abernethy 
took, on the 16th, that he saw several seals playing about a 
patch of w r ater, but he could not get within shot of them, on 
account of the fickle state of the ice. On receiving this informa¬ 
tion at the ship, the dingey was hauled out to the place, where 
the seals had been seen, and in a short time. Commander Ross 
succeeded in killing one of them. Abernethy, or the gamekeeper, 
as he was called, also brought to the ship, two hares and three 
grouse. 
By the 19th, the ice was so thick, that the ship may then be 
