deprive us of the power of utterance. We stood overwhelmed with astonishment at our miraculous escape, and even the heathen Esquimaux expressed gratitude for their deliverance.

The Esquimaux now began to build a snow-house, about thirty yards from the beach, but before they had finished their work, the waves reached the place where the sledges were secured, and they were with difficulty saved from being washed into the sea.

Refuge, shelter from danger.
Imminent, overhanging, near.
Expedient, temporary measure.

About nine o'clock, all of us crept into the snow-house, grateful for this place of refuge, for the wind was piercing cold, and so violent that it required great strength to be able to stand against it.

Before we entered into this habitation, we could not help once more turning to the sea, which was now free from ice, and beheld with horror, mingled with gratitude for our safety, the enormous waves, driving furiously before the wind, like huge castles, and approaching the shore, where with dreadful noise they dashed against the rocks, foaming and filling the air with the spray. We now took our supper, and lay down to rest about ten o'clock. We lay so close, that if any one stirred, his neighbors were roused by it. The Esquimaux were soon fast asleep, but my friend Samuel and I could not get any rest, partly on account of the dreadful roaring of the wind and sea, and partly owing to sore throats, which gave us great pain.

Our wakefulness proved the deliverance of the whole party from sudden destruction. About two o'clock my friend perceived some salt water to drop from the roof of the snow-house upon his lips. Though rather alarmed on tasting the salt, which could not proceed from a common spray, he lay quiet, till the same dropping being more frequently repeated, just as he was about to give the alarm, on a sudden, a tremendous surf broke close to the house, discharging a quantity of water into it; a

second soon followed, and carried away the slab of snow placed as a door before the entrance. We immediately called aloud to the sleeping Esquimaux to rise and quit the place. They jumped up in an instant; one of them, with a large knife, cut a passage through the side of the house, and each seized some part of the baggage; it was thrown out upon a higher part of the beach. We assisted the Esquimaux :-the woman and child fled to a neighbouring eminence, where they were wrapt up by the Esquimaux in a large skin, and placed in shelter behind a rock, for it was impossible to stand against the wind, snow, and sleet. Scarcely had we retreated to this eminence when an enormous wave carried away the whole house; but nothing of consequence was lost.

We now found ourselves a second time delivered from the most imminent danger of death; but the remaining part of the night, before the Esquimaux could seek and find a safer place for a snow-house, were hours of great trial to mind and body, and filled every one with painful reflections. Before the day dawned, the Esquimaux dug a hole into a large drift of snow, to secure the woman and child.

As soon as it was light they built another snow-house, and miserable as such a habitation is, at all times, we were glad to creep into it. It was about eight feet square, and six or seven feet high. We now congratulated each other on our deliverance, but found ourselves in a miserable plight. My friend and I had taken but a small stock of provisions with us, merely sufficient for the short journey to Okkak. The Esquimaux had nothing at all. We were obliged, therefore, to divide our small stock into daily portions, especially as there appeared no hopes of soon quitting this place, and reaching any dwelling. Only two ways were left for this purpose; either to attempt the land passage, across a wild and unfrequented mountain, or wait for a new ice-track over the sea, which it would require much time to form; we therefore resolved to serve out no more than one biscuit and a half every day. But as this would not by any means satisfy an Esquimaux stomach, we offered to give one of our dogs to be killed for them, on condition that in case distress obliged us to resort again to that expedient, the next dog killed should be one of the Esquimaux team. They

replied that they should be glad of it, if they had a kettle to boil the flesh in, but as that was not the case, they must even suffer hunger, for they could not, even now, eat dog's flesh in its raw state. We now remained in the snow-house, resigned to our situation; and even our rough heathen companions declared that it was proper to be thankful that they were still alive, adding, that if they had remained a very little longer upon the ice, all their bones would have been broken to pieces in a short time.

Victuals, provisions.
Reproof, blame.

Melancholy, dull and sad.
Boisterous, rough.

Towards noon of the 13th, the weather cleared up, and the sea was seen, as far as the eye could reach, quite free from ice. Some of the Esquimaux went up the hills, and returned with the disagreeable news, that not a morsel of ice was to be seen, even from thence, in any direction, and that it had even been forced away from the coast at Nuasornak. They were, therefore, of opinion that we could do nothing but force our way across the mountain.

This day one of the Esquimaux complained much of hunger, probably to obtain from us a larger portion than the common allowance. We represented to him that we had no more ourselves, and reproved him for his impatience. Whenever the victuals were distributed, he always swallowed his portion very greedily, and put out his hand for what he saw we had left, but was easily kept, by serious reproof, from any further attempt. The Esquimaux ate this day an old sack made of fish skin, which proved, indeed, a dry and miserable dish. Whilst they were at this singular meal, they kept repeating in a low humming tone, "You were a sack a little time ago, and now you are food for us." Towards evening, some flakes of ice were discovered towards the west, and on the 14th, in the morning, the sea was covered with them. But the weather was again very strong, and the Esquimaux could not quit the snow-house, which made them low-spirited and melancholy. One of them

suggested, that it would be well to attempt to make good weather; by which he meant to practise his art as a sorcerer, to make the weather good: but we opposed it. I told him his heathenish practices were of no use, but that the weather would become favorable as soon as it should please God.

This day the Esquimaux began to eat a filthy and worn-out skin which had served them for a mattress.

On the 15th the weather continued extremely boisterous, and the Esquimaux appeared every now and then to sink under disappointinent. But they possess one good quality, namely, a power of going to sleep when they please, and, if need be, they will sleep for days and nights together.

Occasion, cause.
Promontory, headland.
Retrace, go back on.
Remnant, what is left.

Obscure, dark, unintelligible.

In the evening the sky became clear, and our hopes revived. Some of the Esquimaux went up the hills again, and brought word that the ice had acquired a considerable degree of solidity, and might soon be fit for use. The poor dogs had meanwhile fasted for nearly four days, but now in the prospect of a speedy release, we allowed to each a few morsels of food.

The temperature having been rather mild, it occasioned a new source of distress, for by the warm breath of the inhabitants, the roof of the snow-house got to be in a melting state, which occasioned a continual dropping, and by degrees made everything soaking wet. We considered this the greatest hardship we had to endure, for we had not a dry thread about us, nor a dry place to lie down in.

but the fine particles Two of the Esquimaux Okkak, by the way of

Early on the 16th the sky cleared, of snow were driven about like clouds. determined to pursue their journey to Nuasornak, and set out with the wind and the snow full in their faces. We could not resolve to accompany them, and yet our present distress dictated the necessity of venturing something to reach the habitation of men: we were afraid of passing over the newly-frozen sea under the promontory, and

could not immediately determine what to do. We went out again to examine the ice; and having strong hopes that it would hold, came at last to a resolution to return to Nain, and endeavour to retrace our perilous journey.

On the 17th, the wind had considerably increased, with heavy showers of snow and sleet, but we set off at half-past ten o'clock in the forenoon, and about one o'clock we were out of danger and reached the bay. Here we found a good track upon smooth ice, and made a meal of the remnant of our provisions. Thus refreshed, we resolved to proceed without stopping until we reached Nain, where we arrived at twelve o'clock at night.

Our friends at Nain rejoiced exceedingly to see us return, for they had been much terrified by several hints of the Esquimaux, who first met us going out to sea, and who then, in their own obscure way, had endeavoured to warn us of the danger of the ground swell. One of the Esquimaux, who had made some article of dress for Samuel, addressed his wife in the following manner:-"I should be glad of the payment for my work." "Wait a little, and when my husband returns he will settle with you, for I am unacquainted with the bargain made between you." Samuel," replied the Esquimaux, “will not return." How, not return! what makes you say so?" After some pause, the Esquimaux replied in a low tone, Samuel and his companions are no more! all their bones are broken, and in the stomachs of the sharks!"

Terrified at this alarming account, my friend's wife called in the rest of her family, and the Esquimaux was examined as to his meaning; but his answers were little less obscure. He seemed so certain of our destruction, that he was with difficulty prevailed on to wait some time for our return. He could not believe that we could have escaped the effects of so furious a tempest, considering the course we had taken.