Precautions for the Security of the Ships and their Stores—­And for the Health and Comfort of the Crews.—­Establishment of Theatrical Entertainments and Schools.—­Erection of an Observatory and House on Shore.—­State of Health at this Period.—­Partial Disruption of the Ice in the Bay.—­Anchors and Cables taken to the Shore.—­Gradual Increase of Cold, Appearance of the Aurora Borealis on several Occasions, and various other Meteorological Phenomena to the Close of the Year 1821.

CHAPTER VII.

Many Foxes caught.—­Continued Open Water in the Offing.—­Partial Disruption of the Ice in the Bay.—­Meteorological Phenomena, and Temperature of Animals.—­Arrival of a Tribe of Esquimaux.—­First Meeting and subsequent Intercourse with them.—­Esquimaux in Want of Provisions.—­Supplied with Bread-dust.—­Some Account of a Sealing Excursion with them.—­Fresh Disruption of the Ice in the Bay.—­Closing of the Winter Theatre.—­Meteorological Phenomena till the End of February, 1822.

CHAPTER VIII.

A Journey performed across Winter Island.—­Sufferings of the Party by Frost.—­Departure of Some of the Esquimaux, and a separate Village established on the Ice.—­Various Meteorological Phenomena.—­Okotook and his Wife brought on board.—­Anecdotes relating to them.—­Ships released from the Ice by sawing.

CHAPTER IX.

Increased Extent of open Water in the Offing.—­A Travelling Party despatched to the Northward.—­Unsuccessful Attempt to raise Vegetables on Shore.—­Decease of James Pringle.—­A Party of Esquimaux build Huts near the Ships.—­Return of the Travellers, and Account of their Journey.—­First Appearance of the Plants.—­Birds become numerous.—­Commence cutting a Canal through the Ice for liberating the Ships.—­Illness and Decease of John Reid and William Souter.—­Breaking up of the Ice in the Bay.—­Account of Winter Island.—­Abstract of Observations made there.

TECHNICAL TERMS PECULIAR TO THE NAVIGATION AMONG ICE

Bay-ice.—­Ice newly formed upon the surface of the sea.  The expression is, however, applied also to ice a foot or two in thickness.

Beset.—­The situation of a ship when closely surrounded by ice.

Bight.—­An indentation in a floe of ice, like a bay, by which name it is sometimes called.

Blink.—­A peculiar brightness in the atmosphere, often assuming an arch-like form, which is generally perceptible over ice or land covered with snow.  The blink of land, as well as that over large quantities of ice, is usually of a yellowish cast.

Bore.—­The operation of “boring” through loose ice consists in entering it under a press of sail, and forcing the ship through by separating the masses.

Calf.—­A mass of ice lying under a floe near its margin, and, when disengaged from that position, rising with violence to the surface of the water.  See tongue.