^ 11
■-? , jq;
iiiii
C H A P . yourts. The natives, on seeing us anchor, came down opposite the boat
of tlie
Barge.
in great numbers, but seemed very doubtful whether to treat us as
Narrative frlcnds O r euemles. YY"e made signs of friendship to them; and a couple
of baidars reluctantly ventured off and accepted a few beads and some
tobacco, which on their return to the shore induced several others to
visit us. These people were clothed like the Esquimaux we had seen
on the other parts of the coast: their implements were also the same,
except that we thought they were more particular in constructing the
- bow, the spring of which was strengthened with whalebone.
Many of the men wore, as lip ornaments, slabs of bone and stone in
an oblong shape, about three inches in length and one in breadth. They
w-ere much more daring than any wc had before seen, and attempted
many thefts in the most open manner. Tobacco was the most marketable
article; but, excepting their implements, ornaments, or dress, they had
nothing worth purchasing. They were exceedingly difficult to please,
and not at all satisfied with what was given in exchange, insisting, after
a bargain had been transacted, on having more for their articles. One
of them who came alongside in a c a ia c k , having obtained some tobacco
that was offered for a lance, was resolute in not delivering up either;
and Mr. Elson, considering that if such conduct was tamely submitted
to they would be still more inclined to impose, endeavoured by threats
to regain the tobacco, but without effect. More boats coming off, and
proving by their audacity equally troublesome, we thought it would be
most advantageous to keep the barge under sail, which in all probability
would prevent any thing serious occurring. Before weighing, the baidar
w-as broken up, as her weight would materially impede our progress in
w-orking to windward on our return ; the hides were taken as a covering
for the deck, and the frame-work destroyed for fire-wood. During
the time we were at anchor, the wind shifted to S. W., and we stood
to the N . YY. with a light breeze ; but finding ourselves drifting rapidly
to the northward by the current, we were again obliged to anchor,
Point Barrow bearing S. by E. ^ E. tAvo and a half miles. Here we
remained till eight o’clock. This point is the termination to a spit of
land, which on examination from the boat’s mast-head seemed to jut
out several miles from the more regular coast line. The width of the
neck did not exceed a mile and a half, and apparently m some places C H A P .
less The extremity was broader than any other part, had several small
lakes of water on it, which were frozen over, and the village before NWive
spoken of situated on its eastern shore. The eastern side of this neck Barge,
trended in a S. S. YY. (mag.) direction until it became lost to the eye
by being joined with a body of ice that encircled the horizon in the
N E This union scarcely left us room to hazard an opinion w-hich
diiectiou it afterwards took; but from the circumstance of the curreu
setting at the rate of three miles and a half an hour IS. E. (true), an
the ice all drifting to that quarter, we were induced to conjecture that
its continuation led AA-ell to the eastAvard.
It was our original intention to have remained at the point ti 1 noon,
landed, and obtained if possible all the necessary obsei-A-atioiis, besides
depositing instructions for Captain Franklin; but the character of the
natives entirely frustrated our plans, and obliged us to avoid an open
rupture by quitting the anchorage-a circumstance we greatly regretted,
as wc had anticipated gathering much information respecting the
coast to the eastward, besides other points of much importance. he
niffiits had hitherto been beautifully clear and fine, and we were veiy
sanguine of obtaining a number of lunar distances with the sun, being
the only means we had of ascertaining correctly our farthest easting,
as the patent log, Ave kncAv, from the strength of current, could in no
way be depended on. At nine we weighed, and, stemming the cuiiciit,
stood in for the low point, off w-hich there was an iceberg aground on
Avhich we resolved to wait till noon for the latitude. On our way thithei
we passed another extensive iceberg aground in six fathoms Avater, am
not more than eight or ten feet aboA. the surface. At
favoured with a clear sun, and determined our latitude to be 71 24 59
N. Lunar anchorage bearing from the place of observ«timi one ™le north
(true), and the north-eastern part of Point Barrow S. E. + E. (mag.) , .
From Avhich the position of Point Barrow-, the most uorthern part
known of the American continent, is latitude 71° 23 31 Is., longitude
156°2P 30" YY. The azimuth sights made the variation 41 east.
The breeze still continuing light from the S.E. (a though the clouds
were approaching from the westward), we made all sad to the southward.