our own recent peril caused us to entertain considerable apprehensions
for her safety. This anxiety quickened our efforts to exchange our
shattered sails for new ones, shat the ship might be got, as speedily
as possible, near to the land, which was but just in sight, and a
careful search be made for her along the coast. We were rejoiced
to find that our leak did not increase by carrying sail, and we ventured
in the evening to remove the sail which had been placed under
the part where the injury had been received, as it greatly impeded
our advance.
We passed many icebergs on the 10th, and in the evening we
tacked from a level field of ice, which extended northward as far as
the eye could reach. Our leak remained in the same state; the
pumps discharged in three minutes the quantity of water which had
been received in fifteen.
The ship could not be got near to the land before the afternoon
of the 11th. At four P.M. we hove to, opposite, and about five
miles distant from, the spot on which we had first struck on Saturday.
Every glass was directed along the shore (as they had been
throughout the day,),to discover any trace of our absent consort
but, as none was seen, our solicitude respecting her was much increased,
and we feared the crew might be wrecked on this inhospitable
shore. Guns were frequently fired to apprize any who might
be near of our approach; but, as no one appeared, and no signal was
returned, and the loose ice was setting down towards the ship, we
bore up to proceed to the next appointed rendezvous. At eight
P.M. we were abreast of the S.W. end of the island called Cape
Resolution, which is a low point, but indicated at a distance by a
lofty round backed hill that rises above it. We entered Hudson’s
Straits soon afterwards.
The coast of Resolution Island should be approached with caution,
as the tides appear to be strong and uncertain in their course.
Some dangerous rocks he above and below the water s edge, at
the distance of five or six miles from East Bluff, bearing S. 32 E.
August 12.—-Having had a fresh gale through the night, we
reached Saddleback Island by noon—the place of rendezvous; and
looked anxiously, but in vain, for the Wear. Several guns were
fired, supposing she might be hid from our view by the land;
but, as she did not appear, Captain Davidson, having remained two
hours, deemed further delay inexpedient, and bore up to keep the
advantage of the fair wind. The outline of this island is rugged;
the hummock on its northern extremity appeared to me to resemble
a decayed martello tower more than a saddle.
Azimuths were obtained this evening that gave the variation
58° 45' W., which is greater than is laid down in the charts, or
than the officers of the Hudson’s Bay ships have been accustomed
to allow. We arrived abreast of the Upper Savage Island early
in the morning, and as the breeze was moderate, the ship was
steered as near the shore as the wind would permit, to give the
Esquimaux inhabitants an opportunity of coming off to barter, which
they soon embraced.
Their shouts at a distance intimated their approach sometime
before we descried the canoes paddling towards u s; the headmost
of them reached us at eleven; these were quickly followed by others,
and before noon about forty canoes, each holding one man, were
assembled around the two ships. In the afternoon, when we approached
nearer the shore, five or six larger ones, containing the
women and children, came up.
The Esquimaux immediately evinced their desire to barter, and
displayed no small cunning in making their bargains, taking care
not to exhibit too many articles at first. Their principal commodities
were, oil, sea-horse teeth, whale-bone, seal-skin dresses, caps
and boots, deer-skins and horns, and models of their canoes; and
they received in exchange small saws, knives, nails, tin-kettles, and
needles. It was pleasing to behold the exultation, and to hear the
shouts of the whole party, when an acquisition was made by any one;
D