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. (2^^ Whi^^£^ 



JOURNAL 

OF 

TRANSACTIONS and EVENTS, 

DURING A 
RESIDENCE OF NEARLY SIXTEEN YEARS 



O M T H X 



COAST OF LABRADOR; 

CONTAItllNO 

MANY INTERESTING PARTICULARS,. 

aoTHOVTHS 

COUNTRY AND ITS INHABITANTS, . 

NOT HITHERTO KNOWN. 
ILLUSTRATED WITH PROPER CHARTS^ 



By GEORGE CARTWRIGHT, 


Efq. 




IN THREE VOLUMES. 


i0>'"^-:^ 


VOL. in. 


!?! /.. :::i 





NEWARK: 

PRINTED AND SOtD BY ALLIH ANDRIDOX; 
lOLO ALtO it Q. O. J. AND J. ROBIHtOH, IN VATEINOIXSK-K«W, All* 

J. *TOCKDALX, riCCADlLLY, LOHaOM. 



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GLOSSARY. 



AuKTSARY. A bird of the wading geiuu, refembling a redfliaiil:. 

Akcle of a Beaverbouse. The cntnnce; it ii alwayi onder water. 

Baked Afples. The fniit of a plant fo called, from the fimilarity of tafie tk 
that of the pulp of a nulled apple. 

Barrens. Elevated lands, wUch will not produce timber. 

Barricados. That ice which is formed upon the (bore above low-watermark. 

Beaver-cuttings. A (iirrier'i term for thole trees or IHcks which have been cat 
down by heavers. It is alfo ufed for the Humps which are left. 

Block up a Boat. To place blocks, or logs of wood under her keel. 

Bobber. A fmall piece of wood, which is made fall by a piece of line (called the 
bobber-line) to that corner of a Ihoal-net next to the land, which, by 
floating upon the water, flicws where the net is. 

BsiDCE Of aDeathcall. a piece of board placed within a dcathfal] ; one 
end of which is hung to a fmall Hake by a piece of twine, and the 
other end is fupported in an horizontal pofition by a peg (called a 
tongue.) When an animal treads on it, the peg is drawn out, which fets 
the cat-killer at liberty, and that falls upon the back of the creature 
and kills it. 

Bridoe or A Trap. A plate of iron in the centre of a trap for the animal to 
tread on, which then falling down, leU the jaws at liberty. 

Bu LK OF Fish. A quantity of hfh falted one upon another. 

Bull. A fmall fea bird. I believe it is called the icejiiid. 

Bu tK> A piece of board which is pointed at one end and broad at the other. 

When a furbo^rd is not broad enough to fpread a (kin properly, the 
bulk is introduced on the belly fide to flretch it completely. 

Callibogue. a mixture of fpmce-becr and mm. 

.Vol. III. « Caplin. 



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i,. GLOSSARY. 

Caplin. a fifli "Salmo Archcus" Pennant. 

Cat-house. A hat of bought erefled over a trap, to defend it from fnovr. 

Chinsinc. Filling with mofs, the vacancies between the (bids of houfes, to leep 

out the wind and frofl. 
CoDSTAQE. A covered platform, which is built, projeaing over the water, to fpllt 

and fait codfilb in. 
Craft. A fifticrman's term, fignifying the whole of the implements they ufe ( 

fuch as nets, hooks, lines, &c. 

Criw o? Beavers. The two old beavers, and all their young ones which have 

not yet begun to breed. If there are more breeding pairs than one 

in the fame houfe, it is faid, to be inhabited by a double or treble crew. 

Cross-jox. a fox which is bred between a filver and a yellow. 

Cons. Mittens to wear upon the hands. They referable t&ofc made ufe of 

by hedgcrs in England. 
Deathfall. a trap made of logs. They are chiefly ufed to catch martens, but 
they will kill any beaft, by eicding tbem in proportion to bu (izeanl 
ftreagtb. 
DlLLHOOM. The well in a bow. 
DOATER. An old, common feal. 

Eddy Flaw. Where the cnncnt of wind b interrupted by a lull or any other 
body, IhoTt: paBa wilt often Arike in a contrary dire^oo; thole are 
called Eddy Flaws. 
Faggots of Fisu. Small parcels of codRlh, from a dozen to a fcore, kidone 
upon another, with their backs upwards to be defended from wet, diiring 
rain or the night. 
Fall in a River. A fmall caunS:. * 

Fish UPON THE Ganoboards. An expreffion ufed by filhermen to denote, a 
boat being completely laden with (ilb ; to fhew winch, they bring in 
two or three upon the Gancboards. 
Flakes. Set^ of beams, which are fupported on pods and (hores, and covered 
with-boughs. They are ufed to Ary fifh upon. They arc of two 
forts, viz: Broad.flakes and Hand-fiakcs, 
Fleet or Nets. A number of nets, which are fattened to each other, in fuch 
manner as to form a pound, or pounds. A dcetuf lalmon-nets, com- 
monly fpeaking, is but three. But there is no determined number for 
a fleet of Stopper-nets for feals. 
Flight-time. The periodical migration of ducki. 

Fkostburn. A deep and ferioiis penetration of froU O.I any animal fuhfUDce. The 
efle£l of fevcre frofl on animal lubftances being equal with that of 
fire, is the reafon of that term. 
FuRBOAHDj. Boatds to fprcad fun upon. 

GAHaiNO 



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GLOSSARY. 'V 

GanoiNO Hooks ahd Leads. To fix fine twiae in a particular manner to 
filh-tiooks, and fmall firaps of line to leads, that tbey may be ready- 
fur immediate ufe. 

GiGC£K. OR JiCGER. A pair of large hooks fixed back to back with fome lead 
run upon the flianks, in the Ihape of a fiOi. The Gigger being let 
down to the bottom, is played by fliarp jerks, and fuch fifli are hooked 
by it, as are enticed by the refemblance of the lead to a real fifh. 

Gully. A Barrel with only one head in it, and a couple of large boles bored 

under the chime hoops of the other end, to introduce a lUng to carry., 
it upon. They are ufed chiefly to carry fait in. 

Harp, An old feal of that kind called by Peimant, "Blackback." 

Haul a Net. Such nets as are conllanily moored in the water are hauled by 
going out to (hem in a beat, byiog hold of one end, and hauling the ■ 
boat along by the head-rope to the other end^ tatiog the filh out into the 
boat; the mcfhes being made large enaugh for the fi(h to entangle them- 
felves in them. A feine is hauled, by (hooting it, by degrees, out of a . 
boat into the water, and hauling it on ihore again by ihe two ends. 

HotTND. A water-fowl rather larger than a leal. Thefe birds migrate to tbe 
north in large flocks in the fpring, and as they fly, make a co'nti- - 
nual noife, than which nothing can more refemble the cry of a pack 
of beagles when in chafe. When, and how they return to the fouth 
again lam unacquainted. 

HUMMOC. A liule hifl. 

Jam Ice. The low ice with which the whole face of the ocean is covered every, 
winter, and until late in the fummer. 

Jab. The young of the ftnallefl kind of feal; the old ooes arc called Dou-- 

ble Jars. 

Jerk. To cure flfli or meat in the open air without fait. 

Killers or a Deathfall, arc three, viz. The Ground-killer; which lie» • 
upon the ground, acrofs the. front of the Deaihfall. . Tlie Cat-killer; , 
one end of which turns upon a nail which is driven into a ftrong (lake, 
and the other is fuppoiied high up by a line which paffes over a ; 
crutch on the lop of. a flake and dien comes down to another at the 
bottom, under which one end of the tongue is fixed, while the other 
fupporls Ihe bridge; which being preiTed by the animal, difengages 
the point of the tongue, that fets the cat.kiiler at libeity and it falls 
down upon tbe ground-killer ; confequently falls down upon the back . 
of any animal, which may be Handing acrofs tlie lattci. And the - 
Main-killer; one end of which reOs i^n the ground and the othet .- 

upoQ I 



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V? GLOSSARY. 

upon the elevated end of the Cat-killer, and falli with it; ferving to 

keep the latter down. 
Kli-LicK. A wooden anchor, made bj* nailing a pair of clawi acrofs each other, 

and fixing three rods to each claw; within which a large flone is pla- 

ccd to give it weight, and the ends of all the rods are tied together 

above the ftone, to fecure it in its place. 
KiNC-HAiRs. The long, glollfy hairs in the Ikin of a beaft, which cover the thick 

coat of fur- 
Kyack. The Erqiiimau name for the canoe which is made ufe of by that 

nation. 
Lady. A waier-fow! of (he duck genus, and the hen of the lord. 

Lakce. a fmall fifli. The Sand-eel. 

Lan dwash. That part of the Ihore which is wtihin the reach of the water in heavy 

gales of wind. 
Laying-room. Boughs fpread upon the ground to dry fifh upon. They are fel- 

dom made ufe of, except on the firft eftablifliing a cod>fiflieiy, before 

there has been time to ere& flakes. 
Ledge. Sunken rocks, and fhoaly places in the fea, where the codfifli Tcfoit. 

LOBSCOUSE. A fea diOi. Il is a conpofition of minced, failed beef, fea bifcuit 

broken fmall, together with poutoes and onions, pepper, &c. rc- 

fcmbling a thick foup. 
Longer*. Poles, which, by being nailed top to but, are made ufe of for floors, 

in Head of boards. 
Lolly. Soft ice, or congealed fnow flo^og in the water when it flrll b^nt 

to freeze. 
Look. a large fowl of the diving genua. 

Lo R D. A water-fowl of the teal kind. 

Mewt. a keeper's tenn, for deer calling their horns. 

Mink. A fmall amphibious animal of the otter fpecies. 

NlTCEi or Rinds. Ten in number, or as many large anes, as a man can conveni. 

ently carry under his arm. Each rind mull be fix feel long, and as 

wide as the circumference of the tree on which it grew. 
Northwester. A hood to cover the head and Jhoulders in fcvere weather. Ii 

is intended chiefly to defend the checks and neck. 
Pack of Casks. Acafl[.wbich is uLen to pieces, firft marking the flavet, bliii- 

dled up together and fecured by four hoops. 
Pah Of Ice. A piece offlai ice of no determined fize, but not ve^ large ; the 

large ones are called Oieeis of ice. 
Pelt. The fltin of an animal with the fat adherii^ to it. That term i» made 

■Ufe 



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G n O S S A R Y. 



TU 



Planter. 



Pooler, 
Post; 



dGc of, for the ftuu of Teals, and fuch other animals, the fat of which 

lies between the {kiaandthe fleih. A Teal &c. is laid to be p£LT£D, 

when the fkin and fat are ukcn off ti^ether. 
PhriPpeks. The Bn-like feet offeals, and other amphibious animals. 
Pile of Fish. Alargcquaniityofdry6{fa,biiiUup inthcfonnof a round hayftack. 

When they are futEciently, cured upon the flakes, they are made up 

into a pile, in order to prefcrve them from wet j to get a gentle heat, 

and to nikke room for others. 
PiNOVERs. Bits of flannel, which are tacked to one (ide oFihe NorthweAer, and 

pinned to the other ; one covering the nofe, and the other, the chin. ' 

^man who keeps fervanu of bis own, and carries on bulinefs for him- 

felf: but who. by not having a veflel, buys his neccii^ry fupplies 

from, and fells the produce of hit concerns co a merchant in the 

country, 

A bltnon which has lain a long time in a river, but has not yet fpawned. 

A ftout pieM of timber, ftanding perpendicularly under a beam. A 

[lation from whence a £lhery is carried on. • 

pRYOR-POLE. A long pole, which is fattened to that end of a (hoal-nct that is 

htftbc4 from the land, by a piece of rat-liiK ; which, not being long 

enough to reach to the furfaceof the water, 'caufes the top of the pole 

(o appear, when the water is covered with ice or lolly. 
Ptarmigan. A bird of the groufe kind; it generally weight about a pound, but 

feldom more. 
P.UNT. Afmallboat. 

Raitekino op Ice. Ice is laid to rafter, when, by being flopped in it* paflage, 

one piece is forced under another, until the uppermoft ones rife to a 

great height. 
Rand op Fat. A fealer's term for a large piece of fat, juft at it happens to be cut 

off the anitnal. 
Rapid, in a River. Where there is a fudden declivity of the bed of a river, the 

ftream runs quicker; fuch places are called Jiapids. 
Rattle, in a River. Where there is a fucceflion of &lls in a river [which are 

frequently to be met with in mouiltainoiis countries) the falling water 

make* a great noife ; fuch a place is called a Rattle, 
Ksndering Oil. A iealer'a term for melting fat into oil. 
RlNDINO. The afiion of taking the bark from trees. In this part of ibc world, one 

length only, of fix feet, is taken off the lower part ofthe trunk of a tree. 

The chief ule of rinds is, to cover the roofs of boufes and pilts of fiflt. 

A fmall tow'line, of four inches and an half ; made ufe of by Ihallops, 

by way of a cable. 

b ROITND 



Rode. 



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viii GLOSSARY. 

Round Seal. A leal which has not yet been either fkiaaed or pelted. 

AuBsiNGPLACE. A place by the w<uer-Qde, which otters have frequently made 
ufe of to lub themfelvet on after fiOting. 

Rummage. A furrier's term for fearching a country; particularly for beaver-houfes, 
when nothing elfe it mentioned. 

Saddle of a Hill. The tow part between two elcvationi on a chain of hiUi. 

Saddleback. The largeA fpccies of gull. "Blackhack." Pennant. 

SCULPIN. A fifh of the gurnet genus. 

Sewel. a device to turn deer; particularly applied to the feathered line. 

Shells iRD. A water-fowl. 1 believe it is called hotter in Er^land. 

Sh A R E s. Men are faid to work on the Jhares whea they have a proportion of what 
they kill or make, in lieu of wages; their employer fumilhing crafu 

Shin. An inftniment of wood, to take rinds off the trees. 

Shoal-net. A net to catch Teals in. It is generally forty fathoms long and two 
deep. The foot of it is brought to, on a fhallop's old rode, and the 
head, on two filhing-lines; with corks between. It is fet in any depth 
of water, not exceeding (ifceen fathoms nor lefs than three, and moored 
by a couple of killicks, fattened by eight or ten fathoms of rope to the 
ends of the foot-rope, which by its weight keeps the foot of the net 
clofe to the bottom of the water, and the corks make it Hand perpen- 
dicular. As the feals dive along near the bottom to fiOi, they ftrike 
into the net and are cnungled; for the net is placed, with one end 
towards the Ihore, and the other right off. The Pryor-pole at the 
outer clew (corner) and the bobber at the inner one, Ihew where the 
net is. The fealers lay hold of either, and by their means bring the 
head of the net to the boat ; they then haul their boat along to the 
other end, and take the feals out as they go. 

Shoals OF Seals, OR Fish. A number of feals or fifh being in company, are 
called afiiod. I prefume the term arofc, fnmi. the breaking of the 
water amoi^ them, appearing like the rippling of Iboaly groimd. 

Shoot in a River. A place where the ilream, being confined by rocks 
which appear .above water, is Ihot through the apertuce with great 
force. 

Shore. A Dout poll placed on the fide of abeam^ in' a icclined pofition, to 

prevent its giving way on that fide. " 

Shoremen. The people who- are employed on Ihoce, tahead, ^it, and.lalt the 
codfilb. 

Shore up a Boat. When a boat is placed upon the blocks, and fet upright, 
feveral Ihorei are placed on each, fide ; to prevent its-falling either to 
one fide or the other. 

SiLviR-rox. 



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GLOSSARY. w 

SiLVES-FOX. Abtack-fox, with white king-hain dirperTed on the tuck of it. 

SlLVEK-TUAw. When it rain* and freezes at the fame time. 

Slink. A falai<Hi which has fpawned. and has not yet recovered itTelf by 

returning into the fea; till which time, it never will. 
Slip. . A Inare for catching deer, bears, or other large animals. They are 

made of various materials, accordingly as a man is provided. 
Slot. The foot-mark of deer. 

SprihC pish, a falmon which is in perfe3 feafon. 
Spruce-game. A bird of the groufe genus. 
Spudgbl. a fmall bucket fixetWothe end of a pole, to throw the water out of a 

boat, which has no pump. 
SeuRSBORES. 'Very long (hoics, to fuppoit the wall-plate of thereof crf'acodflage. 
Squid. The inkfiOi. 

Swing a neti A net is laid to beat ^^'f^.whenoneend only ofitismade&A. 
Steady in a River. A part where the bed widens, inclining to a pond, and 

there is no perceptible fiream. 
Stint. The dam made by beavers acroTs a ftream, toraifethe water to a height 

convenient for .their purpofe. 
Writh. The contents of the magazine- formed by beavers, foF their fupport 

in the winter. 
Stock of Timber. A piece 'of timber, intended to be fawed.' 
StTOPF£R-NET.. A large net for catcfaing feals, which is made to fir the place in 

which it is fixed ; the foot lies upon the ground, and the head floats 

on the furface of the water, by mean? of buoys.' The farther end-is 

made fall to an ifland (where there is one) or to the head-rope of a . 

long net which is moored paraljcl to the Ihore, and the near «nd is 

raifed or lowered at pleafure, by mcaiis of capllans. Several of thefe 

nets being placed at ccriaia diftances from each other, foim fo many 

pounds. 
Stouter. Very Ibong fhOres, which are placed round the liead of a flage or ^ 

wharf, to prevent them from being damaged by Qiips or boats. 
Stranger. A water-fowl of the dugk ktjid. 
Tail a Trap. To fix it properly for catching aa animal. 
Thwart UP a Boat. To m6vc a boat out of the reach of the tide, by the afliflance - 

of leavers or bodily strength, wiien (he is laid broadfide to the Ihore. . 
Tickle. A paflage between the continent and an idand, or between two ifUndsy . 

when it is of no great width. 
Tinker. A fea fowl. " Razorbill." — Pennant.. . 
Tjlt. A.finallbut.. 

Tun- 



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X (r 1. O S S A R Y. 

Tilt-back. ABack-tik is aflied made of bougbs, rdemUing the feaion aim 
roof ; the back part it placed toward* the wind, anda fire is generally 
nade in the tionl. 

Tom-cod. Young codfilh. 

Tongue OF aDeathfall. A peg, which is tied to the. end of the line whicb 
ftippoits the Cat-ktUer; the but end of wluch ii placed under a fork 
or notcb in a flake, and the point is iofierted in a hole in the end of 
the bridge. 

Tongue or a Trap. A fmall bar of iron, which is placed on one fide of the bed 
of a trap, ma turot upon a pin : it paflci over one of the jaws, and 
the end of it it fixed under the heel of the bridge, which it fupports 
until that is prefled upon ; when, being fet at liberty, the Jaws fly up. 

Turn or Timser. So much as a man can cairy on his Ihoulders. 

Watkr-iiobsk. Newly waQied codfifh, which are laid upon each other to drain 
■ before they aie fpread to dry. 

Whabby. a water-fowl of the diving genus. 

Whigwuam. An Indian tent of a conical form. 

Whit eco at. A young feal, before it has cafl its firft coal, which i> white and furry. 

Whitefisk. a fifh of the Porpoife kind. 

Whitings. Trees which have been barked, and left flanding. 

Whittled-sticks. Sticks from whicb beavers have eaten the bark. 

Wrappers. Loofe Hevee.pieces to button round the wiilU, to defend then from 
the froft. 

YouNGBTER. A novitiate; aperfoninthefirfiyear.orearly partof his fervittide 
•ne who has his bufinefs to learn. 



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JOURNAL 

o r 
TRANSACTIONS and EVENTS 



COAST OF LABRADOR. 



THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 



SOON after my arrival in England in the year 1779, 1 found 
upon fettling my accompts, that the various and great mif- 
fortunes which- 1 had met with had involved me in a much 
larger debt than I was able to pay. Intereft then fuggefted to 
jne, that an immediate bankruptcy would be the moft advan- 
ta^ous ftep I could take; but honor forbade it; becaufe, I 
knew that my father had by his will, made me his fole heir and 
executor, after paying his debts and fuch legacies as were con- 
tained in his will : and by my calculations, I judged ther^ 
would be a fufficiency, not only to pay them, but alfo both 
principal and intereft of my own debts, and leave a competent 
Vol. III. B maintenance 



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THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 

maintenance for me into the bargain when ever his exit fliould 
happen, which, from his age and infirmities, I had reafon to 
fuppofe could not be at any diflant period: befides which, I- 
had other expeflations. I therefore laid thofe things before my 
principal creditors, and gave them their choice whether they 
would immediately proceed to extremcties, or give me time 
and wait for that event. They chofe the latter, but required me 
to give bonds a d fuch other fecurities as were in my power; 
and as I had no intention of doing any thing but what was 
ftriSly honefl and juft, I hefitated not to comply with their 
demands: but I have fince found, that I Ihould have afted more 
prudently if I had taken good advice firft, and had the accompts 
ftriflily examined, by which, my debts would have been 
greatly reduced. I now continued to carry on my bufinefs 
as uliial, and every year after met with more misfortunes : 
in particular, my fhip the Countefs of Effingham was daflied ta 
pieces in Trinity Bay, in the fpring of the year 1781. A new 
fchooner, whicii had been that year built by my orders at Pa- 
radife, arrived at Dartmouth, about Chritlmas, a mere wreck; 
with great part of her cargo thrown over board, and only a 
iingle hundred pounds infured on her, and that was done, at 
thirty-three guineas per cent. The next year,- flic was taken by 
the enemy. Thefe misfortunes caufed great hindrance to my 
bufinefs in Labrador,, and prevented the fiih, and other things 
which, were procured there, from being fent off the coaft to 
their refpeftive markets. On the eighth of December 1781 
my father died; and towards the end of the following year, 
I difcovered, that he had, .a httle before his death, fettled upon. 
my next brother, John^ landed eftates to the amount of nine 
hundred and fifty pounds five fliillings a year: and that the de- 
mands which were upon the refidue of bis ellates and effefts, 
for debts and legacies, would not only fwallow up the wbole, 
but were more by a few hundreds than they would fatisfy; 

confequentlyi 



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THE FIFTH VOYAGE. " 

coniequenily, that not one (hilling would come to me from f^~t — 
that quarter; and that, what with the accumulation of intereft June." 
and the late additional lofles, my debts were confiderably in- 
creafed. However I had yet one chance left, for I received a 
letter from my agent, Mr. Robert CoUingham, informing me 
that he had met with a vein of ibme kind of ore, twenty inches 
wide. I therefore determined to return again to Labrador, 
and take a miner from Derby (hire with me to examine it ; not in 
the leaft doubting, but I (hould foon be out of debt, and alfo 
in very affluent circumftances. I then appointed my brother 
John my attorney, to tranfacl all the bulinefs of the executor- 
(hip, put all my late father's effe6ls into his hands, and prepared 
for my intended voyage. 

This morning at three o'clock I left London, and went in the june g. 
ftage coach to Poole. I arrived there at eight o'clock that night, 
and went to Mr. Lefter's houfe ; where he politely entreated 
me to continue until my embarkation, and I accepted his 
oflTer. I found Samuel Mather, a Derby(hire miner, had ar- 
rived here fome time lince. 

This afternoon I embarked on board a brig belonging to J"''' 7* 
Mr. Leller, called the Labrador, commanded by Mr. John Pitt; 
and bound to Trinity in Newfoundland. We warped out of 
the river to a place called Stakes, and there anchored for the 
night. The next morning we worked down to Brownfer, 
which is juft within the mouth of the harbour, where we were 
obliged to come to an anchor, notwithHanding there was a 
frelh, fair wind to carry us on our voyage ; bccaufe, with that 
wind, we could not get over the bar. This was a moft mor- 
tifying circumftance, but often is the cafe at Poole : there we 
lay two days and nights, in which time we might have been 
fer beyond Scilly. 

B 2 At 



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4 THE FIFTH VOVAGE. 

i — *^ — I At' foiit this mbtnirig we got under weigh ; at fix we were over 
July 10. the bar, and difcHarged the pilot. We faw great quaritities of 
mackerel as. we went dcHvn Channel ; btit. Having in general 
very little wind, we caught only one. We met great numbers 
of (hips going to the eaftward (fome of theih were men' of waV) 
and feveral others were likewife going downwards. Having 
biit light airs with frequent calms, our paflage down the. 
ehaririel was tedious ; and the weather being very foggy, w6 
could feldom fee the land-, nor was it till the flxteenth, that we 
got to the weftward of the Ifiands of Scilly. After we got to 
fea, we c^ten faw fifli ; but caught only one, which the failors 
called ah old wife, although I kept a line out almoft the whole 
voyage. One boneta was hooked, but got away when clofe 
under the quarter ; and, with a bad harpoon which the mate 
made out of a large nail, I ilruck Ibme porpoites ; but they all 
tore themfelves dS. We met with, arid fpoke to feveral viefiels: 
but nothing remarkable happened during the paflage, excepting, 
that in the courfe of forty-fix days which we were at fea in flie 
fineft time of the year, we had not above two or three of them, 
perfectly clear throughout ; but met with fome hard gales of 
wind, and a great deal of blowing, dirty weather ; and much of 
it was exceffively cold : the reft was fo^y, or very hazy. Oa 
Aug-iB 19. the nineteenth of Auguft, we ftruck foundings on the Bank of 
Newfoundland, in a hundred and ibrty-iive fathoms, and made 
St. Francis, at half an hour after four in the morning of the 
"• twenty -fecond. At noon we ran through the paflage within 
the Ifland of Baccaleau, into Trinity Bay ; and there got fome 
codfifli, from fome boats which were fiOiing. At five in the af- 
ternoon, we were within four leagues of Trinity Harbour'; when 
it fell dead calm, and a thick fog came on. Soon after eight, it 
fuddenly blew fo excefllvely hard from the northward, that we 
were reduced to our courfes, and forced to run out to fea again, 
for fear of being wrecked on the fouth fide (rf the bay ; the 

tiight 



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THE HFTH VOYAGE. 5 

night proved extremety dark and intolerably cold. The next r- p^ — 1 
morning we found ourfelves fafe out of the bay ; and that we Aujiid la, 
had made fo much lee-way as to clear Baccaleau by only four 
miles. We continued to (land oflF, till two in the afternoon; the 
wind then abating, we ftood in again, and the gale was over at 
fix. The next morning at day-light we were cbfe in with the '*• 
land again, near Split Point ; went round Baccaleau, and were 
working up Trinity Bay all that day, and till day-light the 
following morning, when we found ourfelves about two leagues 
to windward of Trinity Harbour ; we then bore away for it, and 
got fafe in at feven o'clock. We didbutjull fave ourdiftancej 
for it then blew ftrong at fouth, with hard rain and mifty wea- 
ther. In an hour after there came on a heavy gale, with 
rain and thick fog, which continued all that day and the next j 
the wind during that time, creeping back againll the fun, until 
it fettled at north. I immediately went on Ihore, and waited 
upon Mr. Stone, who is Mr. Lefter's partner, and was informed, 
that he had fent a velTel to Labrador this fummer, which had . 
brought from thence all my old filh and oil, confifting of five 
hundred and fixty tierces of falmon, five hundred and four 
quintals of codfilh, and fifteen hogflieads of oil. He immediate- 
ly ordered a fmall brig, called the Catharine, commanded by 
-Thomas Gayler; to be got ready to carry me and my people 
to Labrador: he fpared me a cooper and three ybungfters. 
At four in the afternoon of the thirtieth, I failed in the above ^■ 
veffel for Paradife. We had a tolerable Ihare of good winds 
and weather, which confiderably lellened the danger we other- 
wife (hould have been in, from an uncommon number of very 
large itlands of ice. At fun-fet on the fourth of September, Sci.iemicr <, 
we got fight of Labrador fomewhere about Point Spear, but 
we could not be certain to a mile or two, as a thick fog hung 
over the land. We ran along Ihore to the northward, rather 
edging oS, and at day-light the next morning ftood right in. 

At. 



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THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 

At fix, we faw Roundhill Ifland; at nine, pafied it to the Ibuth- 
ward; and at eleven, being then near the fouth end of Spotted 
Ifland, two Efquimau boats came off towards us ; we lay to 
for them, and were foon boarded by three men. They were 
much furprifed to hear me fpeak their language, but immediate- 
ly gueffed who I was, and expreffcd the greateftjoy, on being 
confirmed in their conjefture. We paffed outfide of Spotted 
Ifland, and endeavoured to work into Rocky Bay ; but having 
toiled in vain till five in the evening, we then bore away round 
Indian Ifland, and dire fled our courfe for Cape North. The 
Indians, at the fame time getting into their kyacks, left us to 
return to their tents ; and affured me, that they would follow 
me to Paradife, with the firft wind. When we were clofe 
abreafl of a large ifland of ice, it feU almofl: to pieces with a 
tremendous roar, like the difchargc of cannon; which is the 
firft time I ever faw one founder fo completely. 



fi,jk. 



w. s. w. 

firetg 
and fyualiy. 



At one o'clock this morning, the tide having fet us to lee- 
ward, we fliould certainly have run upon one of the fmall, low, 
flat ifiands, which lies between CoUingham and the South Black 
Ifland, had not the fea broke very high upon it. At feven, we 
doubled Cape North ; then hauled the wind and fetched up to 
Tinker Ifland, between which and the Sifters, we made feveral 
tacks, in hopes of fetching Curlew Harbour ; but not being 
able to gain any ground, and the wind increafing until we could 
fcarcely carry a clofe reefed top-fail, we bore up, and I carried 
the veflel into Gready Harbour; where we had no looner 
moored in fafety, than the wind ftiifted to north-eaft, and blew 
hard, with thick fog until the evening, when it moderated and 
cleared. I immediately went on Qiore upon Gready Ifland, in 
hopes of finding fome hares, of which there has been great 
plenty in former fummcrs, but could fee no frefli fign of any ; 
perhaps that was owing to a fox being on it, as I faw the frefli 

bilUting 



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THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 7 

billiting of one, but could not not find him, although I had a ' — j^ — > 

good fpaniel. I met with fome fcattercd curlews, and killed September. 

iix of them and a young gull. In the afternoon I went upon ^^^ 
Black Ifland, where I faw the frefh flot of a young deer, and 
killed a curlew. 



At ten this morning. Captain Gayter and I, with four men, 
landed on Black Illand to try for the deer. I took a flatioa 
between the weft end of the pond and the Ihore, and fcnt then* 
to the eaft end of the ifland to drive it to me. They found 
where it had been feeding very lately, but we could not meet 
with it; which makes me fuppofe, that it has quitted the ifland. 
They iaw a hare and killed four curlews, and I killed eleven, 
and a grey plover. While we were upon the ifland, I ordered 
two men to go out xn the boat a fifliing, and they caught feven 
cod. All hands being returned on board, and a light breeze 
fpringing up at fouth-eaft, at two in the afternoon we got un- 
der weigh ; and at feven in the evening, for want of wind, we 
came to an anchor again, on the fouth fide of Sadler Ifland, where 
, we were boarded by two other Efquimau men, whofe families 
were in a cove on Huntingdon Ifland, a little farther on. 

At three this morning we got under weigh, and worked about 
two miles higher, where we anchored* during the ebb. . At 
eight, thirty-fix Efquimaux, of all ages and of both fcxes, came 
on board in one of their whaling boats and feveral kyacks, from 
them I purchafed thirty-eight fticks of good whalebone and 
a few feal-flcins. At one in the afternoon, we came to fail again, 
and I went off in the boat into Goofe Cove-, where I faw fome 
geefe, but killed nothing. In the evening we anchored again, 
between Signal Hill and Pinchgut Point. 

A fine, clear, warm day. 



Sund^ 7. 



Monday 8. 

tV. S. If. 

Hull, 



At. 



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V83- 

- September. 

Tueliiiy 9. 

Wind 

S. W. 

moderatt. 



THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 

Al four this morning we came to fail, and worked into Cart- 
wright Harbour, where we anchored at fix and moored. At 
eight I fent a man up to the narrows a fhooting, and he return- 
ed at night with a brace of fpruce-game, an eider-duck, and a 
goofe ; he killed two more ducks and another goofe, but could 
not get them for want of a dog. In the afternoon the captain 
and I walked over Signal Hill along the back fliore, crofled 
Great Marlh.and returned along the north fide of the harbour. 
I killed eight curlews, a black duck^ and a young gull, and 
faw the figns of feveral foxes ; but none of bears, and very little 
of deer. 

A foggy morning, with rain from eight to twelve ; but was 
fair afterwards. 



Wedncr. 10 



ThurCfey 1 1 
N.E.JrrJk. 



Not being able to move from hence, the captain, one of his 
people and I went up to the narrows, in the boat with three 
other men, and landed on Earl Ifland. They went along 
fhore, upwards, and found a frefli fpring falmon dead; the 
failor killed four geefe, but got none of them. I walked up 
to the marflies in quell of deer, but faw very little frefh fign 
of any. At night we faw the total eclipfe of the moon, and it 
was a fine opportunity of afcertaining the longitude, had we 
thought of it in time, and regulated our watches; it ended at 
ten o'clock, by mine. 

A fine day. 

At day-light this morning the captain and his people went 
on fliore, and brought off a large grindftone, which had been 
left here ever fince I lived at this place. We then failed for 
Paradife, where we arrived at noon ; but found no living crea- 
ture there, except a Newfoundland bitch. The doors were 
all locked up, nor could we difcover, where the people were 
gone. Soon after we came to an anchor, and the captain and I 

had 



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THE FIFTH VOYAGE. j 

had landed, the veffel, by the careleflnefs of the people on < — ^ — > 
hoards in not veering cable, drove, and was within a mere trifle September, 
of going on Ihore upon the upper fide of Rafpbcrry Point ; but 
fhe brought up there, and was warped into a good birth. In 
the evening the Efquimaux which we had feen at Spotted iHand, 
arrived here in a fmall fliallop and a whaling-boat, and pitched 
their tents among my houfes : which now confift of a dwelUng- 
houfe and ftore-houfe in one, fixty feet by twenty-five, and two 
ftories high ; a houfe for the lervants, thirty feet by feventeen ; 
three falmon-houfes, ninety feet by twenty each ; and a fmith's 
(hop, fixteen feet by twelve. On the fouth fide of the dwel- 
ling-houfe, we found a tolerably large garden ; with plenty of 
cabbages, turnips, lettuces, peafe, and other things in full per* 
feflion. 
A cloudy, cold day. 

I had the veflcl warped to the wharf head and landed all my Friday ». 
goods ; having taken the liberty of breaking open the fervants ^'J^* 
houfe. I had a little trade with the Indians, but they had not 
much to fell ; having already difpofed of moft of the goods 
which they brought this year. At eight o'clock at night Mr. 
Collingham, the cooper, and a boy arrived in the Neddy (for- 
merly the Caplin) from White-bear, and Eagle River, whither 
they had been to bring away fome nets and traps, which were 
left there. I now had the mortification to hear, that my people 
had killed very few furs laft winter, and only feventy-one 
tierces of falmon this fummer. But thofe difappointments 
were nothing, compared to another which I now experienced ; 
for the fuppofcd ore, proved to be a friable fubftance of no ufe 
or value; confequently, all my expeftations from it were 
.blafted, and I clearly forefaw inevitable ruin, waiting my return 
to England. Furs of aU kinds were very fcarce on every part 
Vol. UI. C of 



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THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 

of this coaft laO: winter, as were falmon this fummer in all the 
rivers, except that in Sandhill Cove j there a faving voyage 
was killed. 



Saturday i 
Wind 
N. E. 
ItlUr. 



Svoiay 14. 
S.fr.Jk. 



Mon^y 15. 
S. £. iiuie. 



I had a fraall matter of trade to-day with the Indians, and 
admired exceedingly the honeft principle of one of them, who 
abfolutely refufed to part with a bundle of whalebone, which 
he had brought to pay a debt with ; notwithftanding I alTured 
him that the perfon to whom he owed it was not in ttiis coun- 
try, nor would ever return to it again. 

A cloudy, mild day. 

This morning, one of the Indian boats failed for Ivucktokc, 
to winter there. At the fame time I lent two hands in a Ikiff 
to Earl Ifland, to kill fome geefe. In the evening I went with 
Collingham and captain Gayier in the brig's boat, into the mouth 
of the fmall river, and obferved that both rivers were much 
lower than I had ever feen them before. 

Rained in the morning, and cloudy, afterwards. ' 

I hgd fome hay cut for two goats, which Mr. Stone had fent 
as a prefent to Mr. Collingham. Mather was cutting feal's fat, 
to render it into oil. At noon the other Indian boat failed for 
Ivucktokc. The flies were very troublefome to-day ; more fo 
than I ever remember them at this time of the year. 

Rained until the afternoon, and then was fair. 



Tuetixy 16. 

Wd«f. 17. 
Jnmg. 



Three men cutting feal's fat, and two cleaning whalebone. 
Cloqdy, dark weather. 

One man deanbg whalebone, and three cutting fat all the 
morning, and the whole of them cleaning bone in the after- 



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THE FIFTH VOYAGE. ii 

noon. At two o'clock two fiiaUops of Efquimaux came up i — j-^ — ►• 

here and pitched their tents at the dock; and in the evening, a Sept^r. 

whaling-boat of thofe people arrived at the fame place i two of 

them were of the number w;hich I faw at Huntingd<Mi Ifland, 

and the other was one which had been farther to the fouthward. 

I found among thefe people, one man whom I was formeiiy 

acquainted with ; who chanced not to come to the fouthward in 

the year 1773, and thereby efcaped the fate of thofe who did. 

I obferved with great pleafure, that the whole of them were 

greatly improved irt their behaviour fince that time, that they 

both exprefled and fliewed the greateft poffible friendftiip for, 

and attachment to me, and were perfeftly honeft in every re- 

fpeft. When I met with them at Huntingdon Ifland, I lent 

one of them a gun, which he now returned in good order. 

l^hey Cxppeired a gitat diflik'e to the Moravians, and aflured 

ttie that they wOuld ' ntit live near, or trade with them more, 

tut give me the |)refet^tlte to every body elfe. They are now 

gttown very defirous of traps, and promife to attend diligently 

fo ihem' ; in confcquence of which, I lent them fome. Id the 

evening-Mr. CoUingham Went up the river, and tailed four traps 

for otters. 

Rained in the forenoon, and fair afterwards. 

At ten this morning, I went up the river in a canoe with the ThurCUv 18, 
bey, landed at the momh of South-eaft River, walked about '«*<' 

fr. mcitrait. 

twtf miles up it and there fat four hours waiting for the boy, 
whom I had directed to go Up the ftream with the canoe. See- 
ing nothing of him I returned, crofled the river^ walked down- 
wards until I came within fight of the houfes, and then made 
a figmd for a ikifF, which foon came for md ■ but the boy did 
not return at night. The people finifhed the ieals'' fat to-day, 
and cut fome more'hj(y. I had'a ftnaUmatter of trade with 
C 2 the 



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12 THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 

'""^■'^7 — » the Indians, but they having very little to pay with, I was forced 
to give fonie of them credit. 
A very fine day. 

rrkUj- 19. At ten this morning all the Indians failed for Ivucktoke. Mr, 
^,'w. CoUingham went up the river to look for the boy, and found 
laoitratt . Yiim faft aflecp ; lying acrofs a bear-path in the wood, near where 
I landed yefterday. Not being able to get the canoe up the 
brook, by reafon of the fhoalnefs of the water and the numbers 
of large rocks fcattered all over it, he had walked up after 
me, and went as high as a good feeder, which comes into it, 
near the foot of the large Uack hill, which is feen from hence; 
when feeing nothing of me in all that diflance (which is about 
fix miles) he turned back, but fearing to return home without 
me, had remained there. As he had nothing to eat, and 
fpent a frolly night without a fire, I judge his time did not 
pafs pleafantly ; but he is a fine fpirited boy, and as hard 
as iron. He kept too far within the woods, and by fo 
doing had pafled behind me. At eight o'clock the fhooters 
returned without a goofe ; but brought five black-ducks, 
three eider-ducks, five black-divers, three Ibellbirds, and a 
fpruce-game. 
A very fine day. 

Siturdar so. Mr. Collingham and moft of the people were employed in 
A. If. jkart. melting out the feals' fat, and they aJfo fpread a few large cod- 

fifti. I made three wire flips for deer, 

. A fine day, but cold. 

Sunhvit- In the afternoon Mr. CoUingham officiated as chaplain, by 
Jd^Tju. reading prayers. 

A very fine day, but it rained hard aU night, 

Ihad 



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THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 

I had a good deal of the whalebone cleaned, and {hipped off 
fome fajmon ; in doing which, one tierce fell overboard. In the 
afternoon, the Beaver fliallop, with four hands from Indian Illand, 
arrived here; the crew having finifhed their houfe, cut fome fire- 
wood, and left one man there to cut more. The people informed 
me, that one Efquimau fhatlop had returned from Chateau, and 
that feveral families of thofe people were to winter at Cape 
Charles ; a circumftance which I am very forry for, as they will j^, /,„/,. 
run a great hfk of catching a certain diforder, which will go near 
to extirpate the whole race. They alfo informed me, that two 
fhallops belonging to Noble and Pinfon,full of empty hogfheads, 
came lately to Indian Illand, in order to eftablifh a feal-filhery 
there ; but, finding my people in podeflion of that place, they jv. e. /r^ji. 
went on to Sandhill Cove : where they left their calks, and re- 
turned with all the falmon from thence ; amounting to a hun- 
dred and five tierces. They informed my people, that little 
or no falmon had been killed this year upon any part of this 
coaft, to the fouthward of that place. On the firll of this month, 
at Indian Illand, it fnowed until it lay a foot deep on the 
ground. 

Much rain with thick fog until the evening, when it cleared 
up. 

After breakfaft I took two men with me in a lkifF,and went TueHay ag. 
to the mouth of South-eaft River : where we landed and walked ^' '*'--^""^' 
into the country, on the fouth fide of it, as far as the call end . 
of the large black hill, called Thickhead; there we made a good 
fire, and pafled the night. The objeft of our expedition was 
to fearch for beavers; but we faw no other figns of thofe ani- 
mals on the fides of the river, than a few old cuttings : nor did 
we find any place, fave one, in which it was convenient for 
them to butld their houfes. The diftance which we walked 
torday, is about feven miles; we found the woods but thin in 

general^. 



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14 THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 

r — ^ — ' general ; the walking good, and plenty of feed for deer at this 
SepMrmiier. ti^i^ of theycar, and for black-bears in the fummer. I obferved, 
that both thofe creatures had greatly availed themfelves of it ; 
and if I bad had a hound to have drawn on the fcent, I make 
no doubt, but I Ihould have feen deer; as the marks of their 
feeding* was quite frefli. The food , which the black-bears meet 
with here, is ants and flies : the woods have been burnt feveral 
years ago, and great numbers of trees lie on the ground ; which 
being now perfcflly rotten, are filled with plenty of ants and 
other infefts. The bears break thefe trees to pieces with their 
paws, and lick out the infefts with their tonguesi This is no 
fuppolition, but a real faft ; for I have killed a bear with her 
paunch almoft full of fuch infefts, and with nothing eifc in her. 
We faw in the courfe of the day three otters; a mufi^uafh; and 
nine fpruce-game : I beheaded one of the latter with my rifle, 
and killed another with fliot. 

Wednef. «4. Thc wood whefc we lay being very open at the bottom, and 
' jv'^'"h' ^^ ^"^'^^^ blowing ftrong with a fharp froft, we pafled but a cold 
)ro«s- night. At fix this morning we moved forward, and afcended 
a middling high, bare-topped hill (which was about a mile and a 
half higher up the river) from thence wc had a tolerable view of 
the country, and could obferve that, the river, which hitherto 
frijh. fl»le its filent way through a level valley, and wasfrom forty to 
fixty yards broad, is compofed of the waters of two narrow 
brooks, which join a little below this hill, and come in Rattles 
and Falls from fome diftance ; but that higher up, the fouthern- 
mofl: one ran on a level from as far as we could fee. As we 
could not difcover one fingle pond, or any other place likely 
for beavers, I determined to return. We defcended this hill 
on the eaft fide, and there found the finefl: fpot of poie-bittrh I 
ever faw, both for goodnefs and quantity ; unfortunately it is 
j^t^rau. too far in the country, to be of much ufe ; but, if heceffity re- 
quired 



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THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 

quired it, they could be got down. We got back to our fkiff 
at five in the evening, and to Paradifeat Hx; killing by the way, 
fix fpruce-game. This day's walk was about ten miles. At 
night all the people got very drunks according to annual cuftom ; 
their time of fervitudfe being expired. 
A fine, clear day, with very fharp froft. 

The people being all hired afrefh for another year, the feal- 
ers cut fome pryor-polcs, drew fome killick-rods, and loaded 
the Marten with their provifions and other neceflaries ; and 
the reft, melted out the remainder of the fat. In the evening 
J went up the river with Mather in a IkifF, and vifited Col- 
lingham's ottertraps, but nothing had been near them : we faw 
the frefh flot of an old, heavy ftag, which had lately crofled 
the river. 

A dull, mild day, and in the evening a httle fnow fell. 

The oil being tunned off, it produced three hogfheads and a 
tierce : and is the remains, of what Mr. CoUingham got from 
the Indians. We got up the tierce of falmon, which fell into the 
river on Monday laft, and found it no worfe. 

A cloudy, mild day. 

At eight this morning I took captain Gayler, John Edwards 
(an old furrier) and Samuel Mather with mc in a fkiff, and 
fct off upon another cruife ; beaver hunting. It being high 
water, and the river remarkably low, we rowed over the three 
lower fhoots to the head of Long Reach. There we landed, 
and three of us tracked her up the fhoot at the head of it, then 
rowed to the foot of the upper one, where we did the fame, 
and got into the lake in two hours. Keeping the eaftern fide 
of the lake, we rowed along it for a mile and an half, when 
we arrived at the mouth of a ftrong, ratding brook. We 

there 



ThurOayaf. 
N. E. Hair. 



Ffida/ 26, 



Suurday 27- 
S. W. link. 



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i5 THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 

( — j-^ — I We there landed, fecured the boat, and, taking our guns and 
September, a couplc of traps, walked up by the fide oF it. We foon 
found fome frefti cut fticks in the water; three or four fmall 
ponds, or fteadies, with a good deal of old flout beaver-cut 
Clumps, and two old houfes. We at length arrived at the foot 
of a large pond, in which we perceived that there were beavers; 
for a new flint was above half completed acrofs (he mouth of 
it. I prefently difcovered two large old houfes on the fouth 
fide, and the new one oppofite to them. We went to it and 
judged it to be inhabited by a very flrong crew. After tailing 
both the traps, oneon each fide of the houfe, we returned to our 
boat; but as we found the way which we had come, to be 
both long and bad, by reafon of the winding of the brook and 
the great numbers of beds of thick entangled alders, we crofled 
the hills back again. Here we found bad walking in general 
(for the country had been burnt fome years ago, and is now 
over-grown with ilrong Indian tea, with many large cubical 
ivnd rocks among it; from around which, the foil has been, burnt 
/rj«. away) yet we got back in two hours, although we were four in 
going up. On each fide of the pond is a good deer-path: and 
we met with fome fpruce-game in the woods ; five of which 
Gayler killed, and Edwards fliot a goole. We now got into 
the fkiff and rowed paft the next point of land, where we met 
with a fandy beach, on which we hauled up our boat, and went 
into the wood ; there we made a good fire, broiled our fpruce- 
game, and paffed a very comfortable night, notwithftanding 
much wind and rain. 
A fine, warm day, but a flormy wet night. 

Sunday b8. At feven this morning I fent the two men, with five more 

^iSfef ' traps and a wire deer-flip, to the beaver-houfe : they tailed three 

of the former upon the houfe, the other two in cutting-paths, 

and the flip in a deer-path, on the fame fide of the pond; and 

returned 



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THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 17 

returned with five fpnice-game at one o'clock. lexpeSed 1 — * — 1 
they would have brought a beaver alfo, but they did not work stpumhcr, 
upon their houfe lall night. We now proceeded in the (kiflF "m 
to the head of the lake, where we found a very fine river come /^s*- ' 
in, with a fmall fall at the mouth of it. Both the river and the 
country on each fide appeared very inviting, and I felt a ftrong 
inclination to go higher up, and flay out two or three days 
longer ; but the clouds feeming to collefl for bad weather, and 
fearing it might bring on a return of my rheumatic complaints, 
I refolved to return home ; and accordingly we rowed down 
ihe lake again. We faw feveral geefe about the head of it, 
and many black divers, Ihellbirds, and other fowl in the mid- 
dle ! but they would not let us get a fhot at them, nor did we 
take much pains to eifed it. We found the lake to be very 
Ihoaly in general, particulaiiy the upper part ; the bottom of 
it is moftly fine land, covered with long weed, called goofe- 
grafs, with feveral large, Cngle rocks Itanding up, many of 
which are juft below the furface of the water, on which a boat 
may cafily have her bows ftaved in, if rowing feft. We got to 
the foot of the lake in about two hours, and palled the Ihoot 
there, perfeflly fafe and well ; but in going down the fecond, 
we ftruck on a rock, Have the Ikiff, and were very near upfetting 
her. When we arrived at the third, for fear of fuch another 
accident (for as it was now low water, there was a good deal 
of fall and fomc rocks in the way) we landed on the eaft fide 
and launched the (kiffover a point of low rocks, avoiding it by 
that means, and we cafed her down the other two, Hem fore- 
moft, with the help of our tow rope. At &xm the evening we 
got back to Paradife, when I was informed, that yefterday the j,rj. 
fealing crew failed in the Marten for their winter quarters. If 
the feafon Ihould prevent their killing a good voyage of feals, 
1 am fute it mull be their own faults if ibey do not kill plenty 
of white-bears, wolves, deer, fows, hares, and ducks ; fori think 
Vol.. UI. D ■ they 



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THE FIFTH- VOYAGE. 

they could' not well be in a better phce for thofc animate. The 
dry fifti. had been fpread, feme whalebone cleaned, and a ikiif 
full of mofs gathered fince I went away. 

It rained fmart till ten this morning, cloudy the reft of the 
day, and rained hard again for moft part of the night, with a 
hard gale at ealt fouth-eaft. 

As alltlie accounts which I have hitherto read of beavers, are 
very erroneous, I ihallhere communicate my obfervations oa 
thofe animals. I fuppofe, that none of the writers who have 
mentioned them, ever faw a beaver-houfe, but related only the 
tales of illiterate furriers, whofe veracity is not ta be depended 
upon. I tremble at feeling myfelf under the neceflity of con- 
tradiding that celebrated natural hiflorian Con^t de Bufibn ; 
yetl muft take the liberty to do it. He &ys, " A beaver 
has a ftaly tail, becaufe heeatsfifh:" I wonder much that 
Monfieur Buffon had not one himfelf for the fame reafon; 
fori am fure that he has eaten a great deal more fifli, than all' 
the beavers in the world put together. Beavers will neither 
eat filh, nor any other animal food; but live upon the leaves 
and bark^f fuch trees andfhrubs as have not a refinous juice, 
and the root of the water-lilly. I have known them eat black 
fpruce; and they will fometimcs cut down filvcr-fir; but I be- 
lieve, that is only to build with when other trees are fcarce. 
When they eat, they hold their food in their fore paws and fit up 
like monkies. In the fummer time they ramble about very 
much, pay ing little regard to their houfes, and will make a bed of 
fticks fhred fine, under a bufti near the water-fide, and there- 
flecp: the firft bed of this kind which I found, I took to be 
the neft of a goofe. If the pond which they lived in the lafli 
winter, has plenty of fuch food us they like, growing by the 
fide of it, and they have not been difturbed by man, they will 
feldom quit it; but if there be a fcarcity of food, they will 

wander 



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THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 19 

wander about in fearch of another, where they can be more 1 — f^~^ 
plentifully fuppUed: and it has been long obferved, that of all s^ptcnfacr. 
the trees which grow in Newfoundland or Labrador^ they like 
the afpen beft, and next to that the birch. Having found a 
j''ace convenient for the purpofe, they commonly begin early 
iti Auguft to ereft their houfe. Their mode of conftrufting it 
1 had from a very intelligent obferver, John Edwards, who has 
made the catching of them his whole employment for feverai 
winters ; in which time he has killed feveral hundreds. He 
told me, if the pond be deep clofe to the bank, and that free 
from rocks, they begin under water, at the foot of the bank, 
^d fcoop out a hole, riling gradually to the furface ; carrying 
all the earth which they dig out there to the top, and mix abun- 
dance of flicks, and even Hones among it. The flicks which 
they make ufe of on this occafion, are of all fizes, from the 
thickntfs of a man's ancle to his litde finger, but very feldora 
of larger dimenfions. They pile up thefe materials in the form 
of a dume, fomeiimes to the height of fix, or feven feet above 
the level of the ground, but commonly not more than four. 
The bafe is generally of an oval form; the height ten or twelve 
feet, and eight or nine in width. As they raifc this pile 
above, they hollow it out below, taking care that their bed, or 
lodging-place Ihall be above the reach of floods, and fufiiciendy 
roomy to contain the whole family. Frcrni the fore part of 
the'houfe, they build a projedion into the pond, iloping down- 
wards all the way, and under this they enter into their houfe. 
This entrance is called by the furriers, the Angle; nor do they 
always content themfelves with one, but more commonly 
will have two, and fometimcs three. They have but one 
apartment, which is termed the lodging, and which is fliaped 
in the infide like an oven, the bottom of which is covered 
with the flireds of flicks, refembling fine narrow fliavings. At 
alittlc diflance from the angle, is their magazine of provifions, 
D 2 ^ which 



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THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 

which confifts of the roots oT water-Iilly, and the branches of 
trees ; the but-ends of the latter they ftick into the mud, where 
there is any. The whole is termed writh, and I have feen as 
much as a cart- would hold; great part appearing above water. 
They are very induftrious creatures, for even amidft a fupcr- 
abundance of provifions, they will continue to add to the 
ftore; and though their houfe be completely built, they will 
ftill carry on frefh works, until the pond is frozen firm over; 
they will even keep a hole c^n to- work on the houfe for 
Ibme nights after, provided the froft is not very feverc: and 
as they will enter every old houfe and do ahttle work upon 
it, young furriers are frequently deceived thereby, fuppo- 
Jing thofe houfes to be inhabited. Although they will ibme- 
times continue in' the fame pond for three or four years or 
more, yet they will frequently build themfelves a new hoafe 
every year ; at other times they will repair an old one, and 
live in that ; and they often build a new houle upon, or 
clofe adjoining to an old one, making the two tops into one, 
and cut a communication between the lodgings : hence, I pre- 
fume, arofe the idea of their having feveral apartments. When 
the pond is not deep enough for them, they wiH throw a dam 
acrofs the- mouth of the brook, by which it difcbarges its water, 
to raife it to a fiiflicient height ; making ufe of flicks, ftones, 
mud, and fand for this purpofe. Some of thefe I have feen of 
great length and ftrength, infomuch that I have walked over 
them with the greateft fafety , though not quite dry-ffiiod, if they 
be new, as the water always fheds over them, being on an exaS: 
level from end to end. But if, notwit&llanding the Hint, they 
cannot raife the water to a proper depth, near the bank, they 
build their houfe in the pond, at a few yards diltance from the 
fhore, beginning at the bottom and hollowing it out as they go 
on, for they muft have about three feet depth over the end of 
tfie angle, or the water would freeze in ityand they could go 

neither 



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THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 

neither in nor out. If there be an ifland in the pond, they gene- 
rally make their houfe on that, being the fafeft place ; and by far 
the greatefl number of houfes are on the north fliore, for the 
advantage of the fun. They have no opening from their houfe 
on the land fide, and for thefe reafons ; becaufe the frofty air 
would enter at that hole and freeze up the water in the angle, 
whereby they would be cut off from their magazine : the 
wolves likewifc and other enemies might enter thereat and kill 
them ; and the ccrfd would be greater than they could bear. 
For, although they are provided with a thick fkin, covered with 
plenty of long, warm fur, they cannot endure fcvere froft, being 
well known, that they die if expofed to it for a fliort time. By 
what I have laid, the reader will fuppofe they are endued with 
unerring fag^city, but that is not the cafe ; for they have been 
known to build their houfe in a pond, where there wa&fuch a 
fcarcity of food, that they have all died for want; or in one, 
that lay in a flat country, which, by a great thaw in the winter, 
has been flooded ; when they have been obliged to cut a hole 
through the crown of their lodging* and by fo doing, and the 
water freezing in their houfe on thereturn of the froft, they have 
not been able to get into it again, but have all been found dead 
upon it. At other times, they have lived on abrook,.whece a 
thaw has caufed fuch a flream as has wafhed away all their food, 
and confequently flarved them. They \vill often run a flint 
acrofs-a narrow valley, through which a fmall drain of water 
runs, and where plenty of willows, alders, and fuch like things 
grow, and make a pond for themfelves. The furrier has then 
only to cut the flint, and when, the water is run off, he. kills 
them all with the greateft eafe. As the killing of beavers is an 
art appertaining to-the fcience of furring, which I do not wifh to 
make public, I Ihall fay no more on that head, except that they 
are always killed by flaking their houfes, by guns, or by traps ; 
and not. by hunting them^with dogs, by men on horfe-back 

with 



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THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 

• with fpears, as I have feen ridiculoufly defcribed in prints. 'Nor 
do thby ever caftrate themfelvK to efcape their purfuers, for 
thatpart is not only of no ufe, but both tbofe, theif prides, and 
oil-bags (the two latter veflels being common to both fexes, and 
the prides only ufed inaiedicine, known by the name of caftore- 
um) lie fo completely within them, that the operation muft 
be performed by a .very fkilful hand indeed, and with the 
greateft care not to kill them. Befides, what made them ac- 
quainted with the caufe of their being purfiied? If their fldh 
were not fuch excellent «ating, very few beaver-fkins would 
ever come to market. Beavers generally bring forth two 
young ones at a time, which are moft commonly male and 
female ; yet they will often have but one, efpecially the 
-firft time of breeding ; and Ibmetimes three or four ; and 
I was told by a man of mine ( Jofeph Tero) that he once 
cut feven out of an old one. The firft year, they are caUeid 
pappoofes\ thekcond,Ji?iaUitudlers; the third, large tnedlers; 
the fourth, heaver ; and after that, old or great beaver. "They 

' copulate in May, and bring forth towards the end of June. 
The young ones continue to hve with their parents until they 
are full three years old; then pair off, build a houfe for them- 
selves, and begin to breed. Yet fometimes, and not uncommonly, 
if they are undifturbed and have plenty of provilions, they 
will continue longer with the old ones, and breed in the fame 
houfe. They are then called a double crew ; and that was the 
cafe with the family which we found yeflerday. It often- 
times happens, that a fingle beaver lies retired, and it is then 
ftiled by furriers, a hermit ; they fay, it is turned out from the 
family, becaufe it is lazy and will not work ; and what is very 
Angular (for be the caufe what it will, the fa£t is certain) all 
hermit beavers have a black mark on the infide of the ikin 
upon their backs, called a faddle, which diftinguiflies them. 
I rather think the caufe of hermit beavers to be fidelity ; as they 



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THE HFTH- VOYAGE. 93 

arc very faithful creatures to their mate; and by fome accident . — ^ — i 
or other, loofing that mate, they cither will not pair again; or Se^nLr. 
remain (ingle until they can find another hermit of the contrary 
fex ; and that the faddle proceeds from the want of a partner to 
keep their back warm. I am fure that fuppofition is more na- 
tural, than, that it fhould be turned out becaufe it is lazy ; for 
many of thofe hermit beavers do fo'much work, that good fur- 
riers have ibmetimes been deceived, and imagined, they had 
found a fmall crew. Whether they do, or do not make ufe of 
their tails as trowels to plafter their houfes with, I c^inot fay, 
though I am inclined to believe they do not ; becaufe their tail 
is lb heavy, and the tendons of it fo weak, though numerous, 
that I do not think they can ufe it to that efied ; and that there- 
fore they daub the earth on with their hands, for I muft call 
them fo. When they dive, they give a fmack on the water 
with their tails as they go down ; but that appears to me to 
proceed from the tail falling over with its own weight. They 
move very flowly on land, and being a!fo a very cowardly crea- 
ture, are eafily killed there by any man or beaft that chances 
to meet with them : yet, being defended by long fur, and 
a thick Ikin, and armed with long, Ilrong teeth, firmly fet in 
very ftrongjaws, they are capable of making a ftout refiftance. 
I have heard of an old one, which cut the leg of a dog nearfy 
off at one ftroke, and I make not the Icaft doubt of the truth 
of the information. Still I have been informed, that otters 
will enter their houfes and kill them ; but I believe it nwj 11 only 
be the young ones, when the old ones are from home ; for I 
hardly think, that an old beaver would fuffer itfelf to be ■ 
killed by an otter. When met on fhore by a man, they have 
been known to fit upon their breech and fall a crying like a : 
young child ; an indance of which I mull rdate. 

A man.. 



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THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 

A man newly arrived in Newfoundland, was walking 
through a wood, and near a pond; where he chanced to. meet 
a beaver with a billet of wood on his (boulder^ going down to 
the water. As foon as thecreatum faw him, belaid down. bis 
load, fat upon his breech and cried exa6Uy like an infant. 
The man having more tendernefs in his difpofition than fuch 
men ufually have, not knowing what it was, and, perhaps, taking 
it for a creature fuperior to the brute creation, ilopped and 
addreHed it thus, " Thou necd'ft not cry, poor thing, for I 
*' would not hurt thee for the world ; fo thou mayeft take up 
" thy turn of firewood and go home about thy bufinefs." The 
above, ftory I do not give as a pofitive fa6); ; relating it only as I 
have often heard it. It is an adual truth however, that a late 
fervant of mine, Charles Atkinfon, could never be prevailed 
upon to tafte the flefh of beavers, becaule he was iiire, he iaid, 
" They were enchanted ChriClians." When beavers meet with 
a fuffiency of afpen, birdh, or fuch flirubs as they are fond 
of, and which are not bigger than a ftout pole, they will fel- 
domcutthofe of a larger fize; buti when neceflity obliges 
them, they will cu t down the largeft tree that ever grew. How 
long-they are in performing the work, I have had no opportu- 
nity to afcertain, but I believe it is done in no great time : for 
I once found at the foot of a black fpruce, that they had cut 
down, a chip of four inches in length and two in breadth, which 
feemed to have been taken off at one ftroke. And I have feen 
fo many flout trees, which have been felled by them in the 
courfeof one fcafon, that I am convinced they mull work both 
quick and diligently. Small trees they cut on one fide only, 
but large ones they go round and always fell them towards the 
water, to fave themfelves carriage. A flick, the thicknefs 
of a ftout walking cane, they will cut off at one flroke, and as 
clean as if done by a gardener's pruning-knife. It is the bark 

only 



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THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 

only of trees which they eat, and feem.to hke that of the branches 
beft, though they will eat the rind of the trunks alfo. Having 
felled a large tree, they lop off all the branches, and thofe, as 
well as the bodies of fmall trees, they cut up into lengths 
according to their weight and thicknefs ; the larger ones 
they carry on their (boulders to the water fide, throw them 
in, and tow them to the place where they are wanted; the 
long branches they drag along in their mouths. They always 
cut on the windward fide of a pond, becaufe, by fwimming 
along the ihore before they land, they caa wind any enemy 
who may perchance be there; the wind alfo aflilling them 
both to fall the tree towards the water, and to tow the wood 
home. Thefe creatures begin to grow fat after the middle 
of July, are in tolerable cafe by the end of Auguft, and by 
the end of September, are at their heft, provided they have good 
living and are not dillurbed. Thofe which feed upon brouze, 
particularly on birch, are the moll delicious eating of any ani- 
mal in the known world ; but the flelh of thofe which feed upon 
the root of the water lily, although it makes them much fatter 
than any other food, has a llrong talle, and is very unpleafant 
After Chriflmas they begin to decline, and by May are com- 
monly poor ; in thefe particulars they refemble the porcupine, 
as they do in many other refpeds. If their houle is dillurbed 
much before the pond is frozen, they commonly quit it, and go 
into the next, either above or below ; or they will go into an old 
houfe in the fame pond, or a fmall one of their own there, 
which they generally have befides the one they live in, and it 
is termed the hovd. If thpy have been tcafed much in former 
year?, they will often Oy for a very (light dillurbance ; but 
Ibould the furrier chance to catch the two old ones at firfl, the 
reft of the family will fcarce ever quit the pond. So long as 
the pond is free from ice, they keep adding to their magazine 
of provilions ; but when it is frozen firm, they begin to live 
Vol. m. £ upon 



»5 



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26 THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 

I — i'Jt"' upon it. As the fticks which compofe their magazine are entan- 
SeptedieT. gled One in anotlier, fo as to make it difficult to extrafl a whole 
one, they cut a piece off* bring it into their houfe, and there eat 
off the bark : after which* they carry it out again and call it 
loofe in the water. In bringing their food into their houfe, 
they often ftrike one end of the ftick on the bridge of a trap, 
which the furrier has placed for them in the angle. From 
this circumllance, many of the ignorant people have pofitively 
allerted, that the fagacity of the beaver induced him lb to do, 
to prevent being caught himfelf; but if beavers had lb much 
knowledge, very few of them, I am perfuaded, would be taken. 
Whereas, the beaver's fafety depends chiefly on the furriers' 
ignorance, for he who underftands his bufinefs well, will cer- 
tainly caitch the whole family, or all the families which are in 
the fame pond (if it be not too large) in a very few nights, be 
they ever fo numerous. If they are caught young, they arc 
foon made tame, and then are very fond of boiled peafe. fluf- 
fon and others lay, that they make ufe of their tails as fleds 
to draw Hones and earth upon: I cannot contradid their 
allertions, as I have never feen thefe animals' work; but I do 
not believe it, bccaufe, their tails being thickeft at the root 
and down the centre part, it would be almoft impoflible for 
them to keep a Hone on it, unlefs held there by another. Nor 
have I ever obferved, that they had taken any Hones off the 
ground; but they bring them from the fides and bottoms of 
the water, and muft make ufe of their hands for thofe purpofes; 
as they could eafier (hove and roll them along, than draw them 
on their tails: befides, the Ikin of the under part of the tail 
would be rubbed off by the ftiSion on the ground ; which never 
yet has been obferved to be the cafe with them, and is a llibnger 
proof, that they never do make ufe of them for that purpofe. 
Thofe who compare this account with the writings of Bufibn 
and others, will find a great difference, but it muft be remem- 
bered. 



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THE nFTH VOYAGE. 47 

bered, that they wrote entirely from hearfay, and I; from ex- '"7^'**^ 
perience chiefly. As fo many noblemen and gentlemen in En- Sfepunbcr. 
gland have expended large fums on curiofities and pleafure, 
I greatly wonder, that not one, out of fo many who have parks 
well walled round (for no other fence will do) with convenient 
ponds in them, have been curious enough to eftabliih a colony 
of beavers ; which might eafily be done, by planting plenty of 
birch, afpen, alh, willow, fallow, ofier, alder, and other fuch 
like trees round the ponds, according to the nature of the foil, 
and procuruig a few p<airs of beavers to turn in. But care 
ihould be taken to have pairs of the fame families, left they 
fliould all turn hermits. 



The remainder of the whalebone was cleaned, but litde elfe Monday 29. 
could be done, by reafon of the badnefs of the weather. Mr, f^^ 
CoUingham was very ill to-day; he was feizcd lafl night with 
violent pains from his left ftioulder to his loweft rib, accom- 
panied by a flight fever and a difficulty of breathing. I took a j(„^, 
moderate quantity of blood from his right arm, and in the even- 
ing laid a large blifter on his left ribs. 

Hard gales, with much rain. , 

The remainder of the falmon. and all the oil were (hipped TueHv ^, 
on board the Catharine. Some of the whalebone was weighed i'>»V' 
and tied up in bundles. A new kitchen, of fixtcen feet by 
twelve, was begun on before the door of Collipgham's houfe, 
where the porch flood. Mr. CoUingham was much better to-day. 

Dirty, rainy weather. 

The remainder of the whalebone was weighed and tied up, it Wednec'i. 
amounted to ten hundred and a half. I looked over and forted f- e. jr<mg. 
part of my baggage. Mr. CoUingham was pretty well to-day. 4^ 

Heavy gales, with oontinual rain all day and night. 

£ 2 1 fent 



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THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 

I fent Edwards this morning with two other men to the bea- 
ver-houfe, and they returned in the evening with a beaver and 
a great beaver ; another trap had been flruck up and hauled 
out, and fome others would alfo have been caught, had not the 
late rains raifed the water above a foot higher that it was when 
the traps were tailed ; by which, the whole of their (lint had 
been carried away. The great beaver, which was the -mother 
of the family, weighed forty-five pounds ; meafured two feet 
feven inches in length, from the tip of her nofe to the root of 
her tail, and her tail was a foot long and fix inches and a half 
in breadth. The beaver weighed thirty-three pounds and three 
quarters ; both of them were paunched before they were brought 
home. 

A wet fog with rain the whole of thefe twenty-four hours. * 

Fridiy J. The whalebone and eleven quintals of codfilh were fliipped 
off, the Beaver fhallop was unrigged, her mafts taken out, her 
ballafl: put on the wharf head, and fhe was then towed down 
and moored between this place and Rafpberry Point, where 
fhe is to remain for the winter. Mofl. of the Ikiffs, punts> and 
flats were hauled on Hiore. 
Rained till eight this morning, thin fog, and dull afterwards. 

Smui4it4- ^ ^^"' Edwards byhimfelfinacanoetovifit thebeaver-traps; 

N.E,iiuu. one of which had an otter m it, and another was flruck up. 
From the birchy bill on the north-eaft fide of the pond, he faw 
two other ponds lying upon the fame brook, higher up. Mr. 
CoUingham and four hands were at work on the new kitchen 
moft part of the day ; they finiflied lludding it, and built part 
of the fire-back. 

A cloudy, dull day, with fome fmall Ihowers of fleet and 
xain. 

« ' 

I Ihipped 



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THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 29 

I (hipped off all my baggage^ and in the evening, the brig fell '-'^ — > 

down the river below Burnt Point. A couple of men went to oaober. 

the ottertraps in the mouth of South-eaft River ; one was ftruck Sumky 5. 
up, another carried away, and the buoy-line was cut and left, 

A dull day, with a little rain. 

After breakfaft I embarked on board the Catherine, in order Monday 6. 
to return to Trinity. At noon we got under weigh, and towed ^' ^'J^'''' 
down to the narrows, where we anchored in twenty fathoms of 
water. In the evening I landed on the north-weft fide, and 
walked to the top of the hill there ; but made no difcoveries 
worth noting. 

Cloudy weather. 

At half after three o'clock this morning, the wind coming up Tuefday/. 
at-north-eaft, and blowing too ftrong for us either to continue J^^| 
where we were, or to go any farther, we weighed and ran back 
into Hoop-pole Cove, where we anchored ; at half after fix we 
weighed again, and ran above Burnt Point, where we came to 
and moored : a flciff then came on board, and I returned to 
Paradife. Mr. CoUingham and four hands were at work on the 
kitchen all day. 

Mr. Collingham and his people were employed as yefterday. Wednef, 8. ■ 
The firft flight of eider-ducks went up the river this evening. 
As thofe birds trim the fhore along in the flight-times, great 
numbers of flocks go up this river as high as Friend's Point, 
and fometimes higher, but on finding their miltake, they.com- - 
monly return again along the oppofite fide. Some few flocks ' 
are fuppofed to crofs the country to the fea again, and in fpring, 
fome have been feen to come down the river, which were fup- 
pofed to return the fame way back, but in general they keep ' 
overthe fait water, , • 

Mr,.. 



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fiurti 



THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 

Mr. Collingham and four men nearly finifliecl the new kitch- 
en by breakfaft-time ; he then ferved out provifions to the two 
coopers, who are to have a couple of youngfters with themi 
and live this winter at the head of Hinchingbrook Bay, to make 
tierces; and alfo to one furrier, who is to live by himfelf about 
a mile from the coopers. In the evening they all failed for 
that place in the Neddy. I fent Edwards and the boy to the 
beaver-houfe; they returned in the evening with three fpruce- 
game, and informed me, that the beavers had removed to their 
hovel, which is on the fouth fide of the pond, and had lately 
worked very hard upon it. They faw two beavers in the pond, 
and had found a good rubbingplace by the fide of it \ alfo, a 
new ftint acrofs a feeder which comes into it. They examined 
a couple of fteadies above, but difcovered nothing there. 
A cloudy, moill day. 

After breakfall the Hinchingbrook Bay crews returned, 
fcSBfc and went back with more fupplies in the evening. Captain 
Gayler, the miner, and I croffed the river and walked into the 
woods a porcupine hunting, but we were foon driven out by 
fnow and rain, without getting any thing except wet jackets. 
I lent Edwards to the beaver-houfe to Ihift the traps and Hay 
the night if be faw occa&on. Mr. Collingham having finilhed the 
& £. littu. new kitchen, we made a good fire in it, and found the chim- 
ney to carry fmoke very well. 

Cloudy weather, with fome fmall fiiowers of fnow and rain. 

Sitiii% 11. Captain Gayler and I went part of the way up the cat-path, 
K. E. liuit where we tailed three of the deathfalls and a trap. At noon 
Edwards returned with a fmall medler, and informed me that 
he bad found another new houfe in one of the ponds above, 
in which he fuppofed were two great medlers. At the lame, 
time, the people iix>m Hinchingbrook Bay returned in the 

Neddy 



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3» 



•788. 

OOobcr. 



Sunday l«. 
Wind 

£. N. Z. 



THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 

Neddy, and took back with them the remainder of their things 
in their (kiflF, My people arc now all fixed for this winter. 
Befides the above, and the five people who are to feal at In- 
dian Ifland, Mr. CoUingham and the boy arc Co remain herc. 
Dull, cloudy, mild weather. 

After brcakfall, captain Gayler, CoUingham, the boy, and 
I went up the river in a IkiflF to pick berries. We landed at 
the head of Long Reach, and walked to the top of the burnt 
hills on the eaft fide of the river, from whence I went about 
half way to the beaver-houfe. We gathered about two gallons 
of berries, and aU got wet to the Ikin, by the melting of the 
fnow which fell early this morning; and we returned home at 
five in the 'evening. At high water this evening the Neddy 
was laid on Ihore ready to be blocked up for the winter. 

Dull, cloudy weather. 

Mr. CoUingham went up the river in his canoe, and tailed one 
trap for otters at Friend's Point, another for a fox on the north 
fide of South-eafl: River, and looked for that which had been 
carried off" from the rubbingplace there, but could not find 
it. In the evening the Neddy was blocked up. 

A dull, mild day *, it froze a little in the evening, and proved 
a clear night. 

This morning the brig was unmoored, but the wind fhifted 
and (be was moored again, when the captain went down the 
river in his yawl to fee how it was there, but found a dead n.e. 
calm below, and returned with a diver and a fpruce-game. e»im. 

DuU, mild weather all day, but it froze Giarply in the night. 

Mr. CoUingham and the boy went to the beaver-houfe, and WedneC 15. 
fi>und all the traps frozen over, but nothing in them. He had ^•^/'s*' 



Monday 1 3* 






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32 



Thurday i6. 

Wind 

N./rffl, 



Friday 17. 

m s. w. 



liuU. 



S. E. UtiU. 

talm. 



THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 

an otter in the trap at Friend's Point, and fliot two mufquaflics 
and a brace of fpruce-game. Captain Gayler and I took fome 
traps and went down the river in his yawl with Edwards and 
two other of his people, and tailed two of them for otters, on 
. the- rubbingplace above Drunken Cove; two on that in Hinch- 
ingbrook Bay, neareft to the narrows ; and four for foxes in 
the path on the eafl fide, below the narrows, Edwards killed 
feven flight-ducks, and got three of them; I killed three, but 
got none. 

A cloudy, cold day, with a little fnow at night. 

The brig was unmoored at feven this morning, and at nine 
the miner and I embarked. We got under fail immediately, and 
worked down ; at three in the afternoon we were through the 
narrows, but at fix, finding we gained very little ground, and 
the night growing dark, we ran back into the entrance of the 
narrows, and there anchored in twenty fathoms of water. I had 
a fmart attack of the lumbago this morning, which grew worfe 
as the day advanced. 

A cloudy, cold day. 

At three this morning, we got under weigh and made fail 
down the bay. At day-break we were abreaft of Longftretch ; 
at eight were through the narrows of Cartwright Harbour ; at 
nine wereoffBlack Head; at noon we were the length of North 
Hare Ifland, when it fell calm, and we anchored in twenty 
fathoms. We weighed again at three in the afternoon, but 
were obliged to bear away immediately for an eafterly wind; 
foon after anchored again, being calm, and remained there 
all night. We faw a prodigious quantity of flight-ducks near 
the narrows of Cartwright Harbour, as always is the cafe 
at this time of the year, and at the eaft end of Earl Ifland, 
pafled abundance of geefe. 

A gentle 



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THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 33 

A gentle froft early in the morning, the reft of the day proved < — ^p— > 
dear, warm, delightful weather, and we had a ferene, fine night, oalrfi. 

We came to fail this morning at four o'clock, with a fine Samnby t^- 
breeze at weft, and at eight were doubling Cape North, w.SHau. 
when the wind died away almoft to a calm, and ftiified to fouth- 5. w. uttu. 
weft. Finding we could not fafely go within BUck lilands, we 
veered and flood to the northward, but were foon oUiged to 
get the boat out. as a great fwell came from thence, which 
drove us towards the iflands. At the fame time a terrible fea 5. s, t. 
was breaking every where along fhore. At ten, the breeze ^^Itt 
frefliening, we called the boat on board ; at three, having 
the Wolf Ifland open of Black Iflands, we hoifted her in, and at "' ^' ^' 
eight at night had an ofEr^ of fix or feven leagues ; we then 
took our departure from Black Iflands. and foon loft fight of 
them. My lumbago was much worfe to-day. Very few iflands 
of ice in fight. 

This was a fine day. and the night proved moderate and light. 

The following day was dull and cold, but a fine frelh breeze Sundjy 19, 
at north north weft made us ample compenfation. The next 
morning the wind blew frefti at eaft, with dark, threatening Monday bo. 
weather, which increafed by degrees, and obliged ais to take in 
fail until it blew fo hard by four in the afternoon, that we were 
obliged to bring to under a clofe reefed mainfai! ; and beit^ then , 
upon the coaft of Newfoundland, we drove towards Cape John. 
At ei ght the wind ihifted to north by- eaft, and blew with great 
violence, driving us toward the Barrack and other rocks. At Xue%jii. 
noon the following day, captain Gayler tcrfd me that we fliould 
be among thofe rocks before day -light, if the gale heldj and 
that the veflel would bear no more fail, without great danger 
of upfetting. I replied, " It is not now a time to conflder 
" what the veflel wiU do, but to determine what flie fliall do. 
Vol. UI. F. "For. 



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34 THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 

' — ^3 — ' " ^**'* ^y P^'"^* *' '^ ^ matter of the greateft indifference to me 
ottober. ** whcthcr I ain drowned by being driven on the rocks, or by 
•* the ttpfetting of the veflel; but as the one feems to be certain 
•* and the other is only a fuppofition, I am decidedly for fetting 
" more fail immediately, and endeavouring to get outfide of 
" Funk Ifland, where we fhall have drift enough." He approved 
of my arguments, fet more fail, and the little vcffel plunged 
through the fea better tlian could be expefted. But we foon 
met with an accident which might have proved fatal to us ; 
for Die was caught aback and heaved fuddenly about, which 
carried away the boom-guy, but fortunately did nu.other dam- 
age. At fix in the eveningthe gale began to abate, ana fu(>:i a. ^ r 
became much more moderate; the relt of the night nrov; a ..nc, 

Wedi:er.i3. and in the momlng wc Ihapcd a couffc for Funk llland, but 
did not fee it. After that, we had contrary win's, with various 
weather, chiefly Yog, infomuch that it was not till fix o'clock 

Thutflay 30. *" ^^^ morning of the thirtieth inftant, that we got fafe to an 
anchor in Trinity Harbour. By evening all the falmon and 
codfifli were Ihipped on board Meffrs. Lefter and Stone's fhip. 
Sandwich, bound for Leghorn. This proved a very fine day, 
yet we did but juft fave our diftance, for the next was bad 
enough, and we had no more good weather for feveral days 
aftsr. 

November. 

Mondays. On tfac third of November, having another fmart attack of 
the fciatica, I put a very large Uiller on the infide of my left 
ham, which was extremely painful for feveral days, but effec- 
tually carried off my complaint. On the fifth I (hipped all 
my furs and whalebone on board a new Ihip of Meffrs. Lefter 
and Stone's, called the John ; the whole of which was worth 
about five hundred pounds. I configned them to Mr. Lefter at 
Poole, advifed him of that and other affairs I hatj tranfafled, 
and the next day fhe failed for Pook. I determined to accom- 

paoy 



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THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 33 

pany Mr. Stone to England in the Little Benjamin; a new 
brig then on the ftocks. She was launched on the twenty-fourth, 
was ready for fea on the fourteenth of December, on which 
day I lent my baggage on board, and we Ihould have failed the 
next morning early, had not the wind Ihifted and prevented 



At ten o'clock in the morning of Thurfday the eighteenth of ThuriHay i8* 
December, we failed in. the Little Benjamin out of Trinity Har- 
bour for Poole, and at three in the afternoon were abreall of 
Bacaleau, with a frelh gale at north north welt, a Iharp frofl: and 
fome Ihowers of fnow. We had a very good time off the coafl, . 
and when we got to the eallward of the banks, the weather grew 
milder. But the wind kept creeping round againll the fun, . ' 

and by the time we had got an offing of four hundred miles, 
it came to fouth-eaft, eaft, and eaft north call, and blew very 
hard for fome days; afterwhich, we had fair winds; andex- "' *' 

^ ' January.. 

tremely fine weather, until the fifteenth of January, 1784, but Friday i& 
from that day we had a long feries of bad weather and contrary . ^^^ ^ . 
winds. On Saturday the feventeenth, at four in the morning, ""' ' ''"■ 
we ftruck foundings in eighty fathoms-; it then blew very 
hard with thick fog;, at ten the fog lifted a- little, when the 
people, who were then alofi, cried out " Land under our lee." 
This we took to be Ulhant, and the great numbers of ducks 
and other water-fowl which were conllantly flying paft us, 
n;iade us really think we. were very near the land. We fet 
the forefail and ran well off from the fuppofed land, but foon 
after others palled out again " Land under our lee bow. The 
wind then heading us, we veered and endeavoured to get into . 
the bay of Bifcay. , At two in the afternoon, a moll dreadful . 
huricane came on from the northward, fuch as none of us had 
ever feen, and which beggars all defcription, luffice it to fay, 
thit it was dreadful and terrible to the greateft degree. AU 
F 2. though. 



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^ THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 

r-^ — 1 though captain Pitman, the mailer of the ^'eflel, had the pru- 
januaT. dcncc to take in what fail he had out, yet it laid the veflel near- 
ly on her beam ends, and we CKpefted that {he muft either have 
upfet or loft her mails. It laftcd three quarters of sn hour, 
and even afterwards blew fo hard till ten at night, that we could 
not Ihew one rag of fail : and as it had Ihifted again lo north 
north weft, we fuppofed that we were driving upon the coaft 
of France, between Ufhant and the Seimes. To retard her 
drift fomewhat, a cable was veered out, which at ten at night 
was cut away, and we fet a reefed forefail and balance-reefed 
mainfail. It is eafier to imagine than to defcribe the anxiety of 
our minds, expefting every minute, from ten o'clock on the 
Saturday morning to eight on Sunday night, to difcover ragged 
rodts clofe under our lee, and foon after to be driven upon 
them in a moft violent gale of wind. We then, moft devoutly, 
went to prayers ; I officiated as chaplain, and no fooner had we 
done, than, to ihe admiration and aftoniihment of every man 
on board, the wind became perfectly moderate ; it fhifted four 
points in our favour, the flcy cleared, and, miraculous to 
relate^ the fea which but the moment before ran as high and as 
dangerous as it could well do, in an inftant became as fmooth 
as if we had fhot under the lee of Scilly at five or fix leagues 
diftance ! We could attribute all thefe things, to nothing but 
the effcft of the immediate interpofition of theDIVINITY, who 
had been gracioufly pleafed to hear our prayers, and grant our 
petitions ; and I hope, I fhall never be of a contrary way of 
thinking. 'After this, we had various weather with hard-heart- 
ed winds, which drove us to the weftward of Cape Clear, fo 
that it was not till the fifth of February, at midnight, that we 
ThmtiMy s. f*w the land ; when we difcovered Scilly right ahead, and in a 
very fliort time {hoiUd have been among thofe dreadful 
rocks, where Sir Cloudfly Shovel was loft, had not the night 
been dear. The next morning at day-light we were well in 

with 



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THE FIFTH VOYAGE, 37 

with the Er^liQi coall at the Li^zard, and fliould have been 
glad to have gotten into Falmouth, or any part; as it blew very 
ftrong from the north north eaft, looked likely for more . 
wind, and our veflel too was a poor tool, when clofe hauled. 
We were not however able to get in with the land, as the 
wind headed us, but dragged the {hore along with great 
difficulty; and at eleven at night, on Saturday the fevcnth, we Samrfiy?. 
let go an anchor in Studland Bay, to the no fmall joy and fatif- 
faction of every man on board. I then had the mortification "to 
hear, that the Ihip, John, foundered at fea in a few days after 
(he left Trinity; confequently, all my furs and whalelxa^ went 
to the bottom ; and I foon after learnt that, Mr. Lefter not re- 
ceiving my letter till after the above news arrived in England, 
not one penny had been infured on them. Evly the next „ ^^Tg 
morning Mr. Stone and I, tc^ether with three other pailengers 
got into the pilot boat and went up to Poole, where we landed 
fafe at nine o'clock. We immediately drefTedourfelves, and went 
to church to return God thanks for the mercies which we had fo 
lately received at his hands ; and, through the minifter, offered 
our public thanks alfo. I remained at Mr. Lefter's houfe during 
my ftay at Poole, which was till the eighteenth; when I fetout 
for London in the Poll Coach, lay that night at Alresford, de- 
parted from thence the next morning at feven, and arrived in 
Londonat five o'clock in the evening. 

Well knowing that it was utterly out of my power to fatisfy 
the demands of my creditors, principal and intereft together 
amounting to upwards of feven thoufand pounds, on my arri- 
val in town, I employed a friend to make the following oflfers 
to them; and to requeft of them to choofe that whidi tbey 
thought would be moft conducive to their intereft. 

xst. I 



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THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 

ift. I would give up to them, upon oath, every article of 
property I poffefled in the world, provided they would give 
me a difcharge in full. 

ad. If they would allow me five years free of intereft, I 
would return to Labrador, in expeflation of being able, now 
that peace was reflored, to pay the whole of my debts in that 
period. 

3d. If neither the abore offers were latisfaaory,.I req^efted 
of them to make a bankrupt of me. 

But, flrange as it appeared to me, and mud do fb to others,^ 
my principal creditors ablblutely refufed to acceed to any of 
thefe propofals. However, Peregrine Cud, £fq. to whonx. 
I owed a hundred pounds, taking companion, on me, immedi- 
ately ftruck the difgraceful Docket. 

During all thefe tranfaflioas, and until I had received my 
certificate, it was necel&ry for me to keep clofe in my lodg- 
ings, where I amufed myfelf with tranfcribing my journal^ 
and in writing a poem, which, bad as it is, I will take the 
liberty of laying before the public, at the end of my next voy- 
age, in hopes that it may af&>rd fome little amufement: at the 
fame time« alTuring the gentle reader that, if I am fo fortunate 
as to obtain his pardon for this prefumption, I will never more 
be guilty of the like offence. Tho' I have often flept whole 
nights on mountains as high as that of famed Parnaflus, yet, 
never having taken a nap on its facrcd fummit, it cannot, be 
expe£led, that I fhould have awoke a. Poet. 

END OF THE FIFTH VOYAGE. 

TffE 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 



ALTHOUGH, the certificate which I have received, is 
equal to a receipt in full j the very liberal ofiers which 
my brother John has made to me, are fuSicient to enable me to 
live in England with comfort; and the tormenting fciatica, with 
which 1 have been afihfied for thefe live years lall pall, renders 
me totally unfit to encounter thofe hardOiips and fatigues which 
a life in Labrador is fubje6l to ; yet, fince I am convinced that 
there will be far Ihort of twenty (hillings in the pound for my 
creditors, when the final dividend on my bankruptcy is made, 
and as 1 cannot look upon myfelf to be an honefi man, unlels 
I pay up the lad deficient penny whenever it is in my power to 
do it! confequently I feel it my duty to put myfelf in the way 
of obtaining money for that purpofe. As I fee no profpeft 
of doing that by remaining in England, I have determined to 
return to Labrador once more, to try my fortune upon as large 
a fcale, as my prefent confined circumllances will admit of. 
My plan is, to keep but few fervants, and to employ them and 

myfelf, 



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40 THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

t~-^ — I myfelfia killing furs in the winter, and in trading with the 
Apni. Indians in- the fumraer. 

In confequence of the above refolutions, I have» with my 
brother'safliftance* for fometime pad being making preparations 
accordingly. And Mr. Nepean, under Secretary of State to 
lord Sydney, having prevailed on me to take feme of the con- 
victs, who are under fentence of tranfportation for feven years. 
I went to Newgate and pitched upon Alexander Thompfon, 
William Litchfield, John Kefhan, and Thomas Connor ; the 
firft; twenty-two, the fecond feventeen, and the other two fixteen 
years of age, and gave in their names to Mr. Nepean. 

toiif 15. This morning J left London in the Southampton diligence, 
and arrived at Winchefter at four o'clock in the afternoon, 
where I quitted that carriage and remained the night. 

Satoi** it. 1 got into the Poole coach this morning, and arrived at that 
place in the evening, when I went to the houfe of my friend 
B^jdmra Lefier, £fq. where I remained until the time of my 
embarkation. 

Mondaj-iS. The brigafitine Sufan, Mofes Cheater mailer, arrived from 
the Mother Bank, where fhe had been performing quarantine, 
with a c»go of lalt from a port in the Streights. Part of the 
faU was taken out, and fhe was foon filled up with fundry goods 
for the ufe of the fiflieries in Newfoundland, belonging to 
Mei&s. Lefler and Co. her owners. 

In the mean tin^ my private hag^tge, and fuch goods as I 
bad purchafed in London arrived frcMn thence. I alfo pur- 
chafed at this pliace« iuch other goods as I had occafioo for. 

I wrote 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 41 

i wrote to Mr. Nepean, deiiring that he would order the con- 1 — -^ — 1 
vi£):s to be Tent to me immediately, as the veiTel would be ready April. 
for fea on Monday. ^'"^ »3- 

At one o'clock this afternoon I received a letter from Mr. Monday (5, 
Nepean, by exprefe, informing me that the convicts could not 
be fent until an order was iflued by His Majefty in Council for 
their being tranfported to Labrador (as they were fentenced 
generally to be tranfj>orted to fuch places beyond the fea, as 
His Majefty in Council fhould appoint; and that the king would 
not be ill council until Wednefday ; but that if I could wait fo 
loirr Jl.r them, they fhould be fent off that night by the Poole 
coach, and would be with me the next evening. I immediately 
wrote to him again, by exprefs, informing him that Mr. Lefter 
would detain his veffel till that time ; I therefore delired that 
they might be fent off accordingly. 

This morning the Sufan failed out of the harbour, and an- Wodnef. 27. 
chored in Studland Bay, where fhe was ordered to wait for me. 

' At half paft one o'clock this morning, I received another let- Thuria>jr 28. 
ter, by exprefs, from Mr. Nepean, telling me that the convifts 
would be with me at the appointed time. In the afternoon I took 
a ride along the London road, and met the coach four miles from 
Poole, with the convifts in it, under the care of two men belong- 
ing to the Public-office in Bow-(lreet. I caufed them to alight 
before we came to the town end, and conduced them round 
the outfide of it to Mr. Letter's houfe; in order, that nobody 
might know any thing about them. As foon as I had figned 
the cuftomary bonds, not to re-land them, or be any way ac- 
eeflary to their returning to England, before the term of their 
tranfportation was expired, and had furniflied them with 
new clothes, which took up about half an hour, I embarked 
Vol. m. G with 



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4< THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

I — ;^J~^ with them in a boat, rowed by two men, and fet ofF for the 
Afni. vefiel ; but finding, on our arrival at the mouth of the harbour, 
that it blew frelh in the bay at fouth-ealt, which was againft us, 
1 landed at the ferry, difcharged the boat, and walked with 
them to the village of Studland, which is about two miles from 
the ferry, where I hired another boat, and at eight o'clock at 
night got on board the Sufan. We Ihould have gone to fea 
immediately, but it was then calm. Captain Cheater mullered 
all hands, and found the whole Ihip's company and palfengers 
amounted to thirty-nine Ibuls. I brought with me a grey- 
hound dog, a fox-hound dog and bitch, and two couple of 
tame rabbits. 

rridiy «9. At one o'clock this morning we got under weigh, and went , 
to lea, but there was fo little wind all day, that in the evenfng 
we were only abreall of Portland, where we lay becalmed all 
night. 

SttBtiy 30. Light airs eatterly all day, which carried us the length of 
Plymouth by fun-fet. I kept filhing-Unes out and caught five 
gurnets and three dog-filh. We faw great plenty of mackarel. 

Sondw 1. ^^ ''^"^ " ^^^^ breeze at eaft all this day, but, being deeply 
laden, the veflel lailed heavily. At day-hght we were abreall 
of the Lizzard, at eleven faw Scilly light-houfe, and at half pall 
three o'clock loll fight of it. We palled feveral vefleb, which 
were working up channel, and caught three mackarel. 

The morning proved cloudy, the reft of the day clear and 
fine. 

ri>ve. We faw a noddy in latitude 48° 55" north, and longitude n* 
17' weft. 1 put out a line for bonitos. We fpoke a Ihip from 
Tobago; Ihe had met with nothing but ftrong gales eafterly un- 
til 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 4s 

til to-day ; although wc had had conAant calms and light airs r~^ — -» 
ever fince Sunday. May, 

We fpoke a flgop from Gibralter, with part of the relieved Simd^ 8, 
troops on board ; Oie had met with the fame weather as the 
former veflel, yet we had experienced no change. 

We fpoke the General Matthew, William Liddell mafter; TutfOay i«. 
from Grenada to London, out fix weeks> and had lately met 
with hard gales eafterly ; although light airs from the fame quar- 
ter have ftill continued with us. I went on board her, with 
Ibme letters for England, and carried the captain a piece of 
beef and three pieces of pork, which I had preferved in a very 
excellent pickle ; a dozen of porter, a firing of onions, and a 
bafket of potatoes. Captain Liddell gave me a dozen of rum 
in return, and I flaid on board and dined with him; he had a 
lady and two gendemen paffengers. I bought a ten gallon keg 
of rum, and made a prefent of it to captain Cheater. Longi- 
tude 16° 10' weft. 

We few feveral bonitos, and fome flying-fifh; I put out .Moadajie. 
another line for the former. 

"Hiis being the Queen's birth-day, I gave my people fome Thmflayig. 
cyder to drink her Majcfly's health. Two fmart (bowers of 
rain fell to-day ; which are the firft l^have feen, for a conlidera- 
ble time before I left England, 

We bad a fmart gale to-day, from the fouthward, with much Fria»y a©. 
rain in fbowers, for a few hours, which obliged us to reef our 
topfails for the fivR. time through neceflity ; we had prudently 
done fo twice before. In the evening the wind abated, an4 
the Iky cleared. 

G 2 We 



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Tueraay s^. 



Thuililiy 36, 



Friday ay. 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

Wc faw fome noddies to-day. Took in the bonito-Hnes^ ; 
having kept them out till this time without fuccefs. 

We faw a tern, with great plenty of noddies and peterels. 
The air was cold this morning, and more fo in the evening. 
Wind north, north eaft, frefti gales. 

There being but very litde wind, the fmall boat was hoiHed 
out to (hoot birds ; one of the people killed two noddies, and 
L {hot lix and a tern. 

It blew {Irong all this day at fouth fouth weft, with fmall 
rain ; in the afternoon the wind veered gradually to weft with 
a thick fog* and in the evening it moderated. 

At ten this morning, obferving feveral birds very bufy about 
fomething in the water, the fmall boat was hoifted out, and 
it proved tabe alarge fquid, which meafured feven feet, exclu- 
five of the head, which broke off'in hoifting it in ; when gutted, 
the body filled a pork barrel, and the whole of it would have 
filled a tierce. Although fuch of thefe filh as come near the 
land, and are generally feen, feldom exceed lix or eight inches; 
yet I am told, that they grow to a moft enormous fize ; even 
to that of a large whale. They are alfo called the ink-fifti, 
from emitting a black liquor when purfued by other filh. They 
are caught in great numbers in the harbours in Newfoundland ; 
and multitudes run on ihore at high water, where they are left 
by the tide, efpecially if a fire be made on the beach. They 
are ufed in Newfoundland" for baits to catch codfifh, and are 
excellent for that purpofe. I have eaten them, but the tafte is 
not pleafant, being very fweet ; perhaps plenty of pepper aiid 
fait might make them better, but I had none at the time. 

While 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 45 

While the boat was gone for the fquid. We founded, and '""J^g^ 
ftruck ground in one hundred and forty fathoms of water ; the May. 
lead brought up fine, green ouze. 

The day was clear, but a thick fog came on in the evening. 

At eight o'clock this morning, being on the main bank of Suuidiy sS. 
Newfoundland and in fixty fathoms of water, we 1^ to, to 
iifh ; but catching none in half, an hour, made fail again. 
Wc had a thick, wet fog all day, and pafled feveral fmall pieces 
of ice, which mull have been broken off from large iflands, 
which the fc^ prevented us from feeing. 

At ten this morning, we paiTed clofe by a very large ifland Siin«by*9« 
of ice ; and at one o'clock, the fog clearing away, we perceived 
innumerable large iflands, and fmall pieces fcattered about in 
every dirc6iion; and muft have pafled feveral at a very inconfi- 
derable diftance. We foon after difcovered the land, which 
we judged to be Cape St. Francis and the land to the fouth- 
ward of it, as far as St. John's Harbour. It was greatly elevated 
by the haze, or we could not have feen it fo far ; being. then 
not lefs than feventeen leagues diftant from it, as we after- 
wards found. 

The day was very ftne after the fog cleared up, with a mo- 
derate breeze at foutli-weft. 

At day-light this morning, we were within four leagues of Aiondayjo. 
the ifland of fiac^deau ; but having only light airs at fouth-eafl;, 
we did not get the length of the Ilorfechops till fun-fet, when 
it fell calm. In crofling the bay we faw feveral grampules, and 
feals, alfo birds purfuing fome fcattered capliri; and we gaffed 
up two codfilh, which lay on the furface of the water almofl 
dead, and fupped on them. At ten o'clockat night a light air 

fprang 



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46 THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

r --^^ > fprang »p, which by midnight carried ijs into the mouth of 
May.' Trinity IJarbouF; wheji the wind ftriking OMt, md it being the 
l^ide of ebb, we worked in very flowly. 

TueHayan Athalfpafttwo this morning, the yawl was hoifted out, 
when I got into her, with two of my boys, <md rowed into 
the harbour. At a quarter p^d three, I arrived at Mr. St<M)e's 
)ioufe (Mr. Lefler's partner) and called him pp. He informed 
me, that tliere had been more drift-ice on the coaft this fpring, 
than bad been known for many years; that itcatne very early, 
and had continued till the beginning of iaft week, which had 
made every body backward in their work; many winter-crews 
were not yet returned home, and confequently but few boats 
^era out a fifliing; that all the eariy fhips had been three weeks 
or a month jammed in the ice, or cruifing at the back of it; that 
three French fliips were feen from this harbour, driving about 
with the ice in the bay, for feveral days before they could get 
in, and they had failed from hence only lafl: week; and, that 
very little oil or furs had been caught Iaft winter, between this 
place. and Twillingate. 

The Sufan came to an anchor at half after ibur o'clock, and 
by the evening great part of my goods were landed. Mr. 
Stone was polite enough to c^er me a bed in his houfe, which 
I accepted, 

Wednef. i, Hie remainder of my goods were landed. An old fliallop 
Friday 3. ^^^ fcvcral goods, part of my late eflate, having been fent to 
this place Iaft year to be difpofed of, I aflifted in forming th»n 
into proper lots, fixed the audion for Saturday, and called upcHi 
all the principal Inhabitants, to prevail uipoa them to attend it. 
I hired John Tilfed for two fummers and a winter, as b(xitf- 

mafter. 



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THE SIXTH VOYAOE. 47 

matter, for s;/". and his paflage home. He was formerly a "—T^""" 
fervant of mine ; having lived with me in the fame ftation in J<iwi 
the years 1771 and 1772. 

I bought the Ihallop, and lix lots of goods at the au£lion Saurdar 4. 
to-day, which was vf ell attended i and the things fold much 
better, than the effe6ls of bankrupts generally do in this country. 

This being the King's birth-day, I gave my people a bottle 
of brandy to drink his Majefty's health. The Sufan failed for 
Fogo this evening. 

I fet two carpenters and four of my people to repair and MonUyS. 
trim the ftiallop, which is lying on ifaore, on the north fide of 
the harbour. 

Two carpenters and two of my men were at work on the TutHay 7. 
fliallop, and in the evening, having finilhed her outiide, they 
got her into the water, and towed her to Mr. Stone's wharf. 
At the fame time, Mr. Stone fet fome of his people to work on 
ber fails and rigging. 

Having about twice as many goods as my Ihallop can carry "^"^^y 9* 
(her dimenfions beii^ only thirty-fix feet keel, eleven feet 
beam, and four feet deep under the beams) I (hipped part of 
them on board a fmall fchooner, belonging to Meflrs. B. Letter 
and Co. bound to the harbour of Fogo, which is the principal 
one in an illand of the fame name, and this morning Ihe &iled . 
for that place. 

My boat, which I named the Fox (formerly the MSrten) saunty n.: 
being now ready for lea, I Ihipped the remainder of my goods 

oa. 



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48 THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

rr-^^"^ — » on board, and at night my people moored her off from the 
June. wharf, and flept on board. 

Sunday !■, I could not fail either of thefe two days, by reafon of a con- 
" ' '^' trary wind. 

TueHiy 14. Thcrc %vas a fmart gale at fouth-weft this morning, accompa- 
5^^f nied by a very thick fog; but that clearing away at noon, I then 
\firMg failed for Idhmus Bay, on the Coaft of Labrador; diftance one 
hundred and feventy leagues from hence. Mrs. Collingham 
came here in Oftober laft, to obtain fuch ailillanct as was not 
to be had in Labrador; and having no other means of returning 
home, I oflfered her a paffage with me, which Ihe accepted. 
Mr. Stone was fo obliging as to lend me a pilot to Fogo. As 
foon as we got out of the harbour, we found as much wind, 
and more fea than we well knew what to do with ; and as my 
four boys were fcarcdy equal to one good man, and two of 
them were immediately taken fea-lick the boat likewife being 
deep-laden, much lumbered, and having a large yawl in tow, it 
was not without fome danger that we got round the Horfechops, 
when we had fmoother water. As I did not like the thoughts of 
doubling Cape Bonavifta in fuch weather, I ordered ihe pilot to 
carry us into the Harbour of Catalina ; where we arrived at four 
o'clock. We found two fmall fchooners lying here, one ofthem 
beloriging to Meffrs. Lefter & Co. the other was from the Weft- 
Indies, — Davis, mailer; they were both bound from Trinity to 
Bonavida, and were juft come in, for the fame reafon for which 
we did. 

There was a thin fog at intervals this afternoon, and it rained 
hard in the night. 



WcdneC 15. After breakfaft I took all hands on fhore with me, to Mr. 
'i, « '• Child's fifliing room ; and taking provifions alfo, we dreffed 

them 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 49 

tfaem in his houfe, and cat our dinners there : in the evening 1 — ^ — v 
we returned on board. I had captain Davies and Mr. Prefton, june. 
who is a clerk to Lefter and Co. to eat with us. We got plenty 
of lobfters here; for I fent my people out in the yawl, and they 
foon brought in fifteen, which they caught with a filh-hook 
tied to the end of a (lick. 

This harbour was formerly fuUof fi(hing-rooms, but the very 
frequent depredations of the American privateers in the laft 
war caufed every merchant and planter to abandon it, except 
Mr. Child, who has now only two people hercj one of whom is 
the Red Indian who was caught about feventeen years ago, by . 
a man who (hot his mother as (he was endeavouring to make 1 
her efcape with him in her arms ; he was then about four years 
old. 

I fent my yawl out a fifhing, but it blew too hard to get upon Thurflay 16. 
a ledge. In the evening the two fchooners went out of the /^'^f£, 
harbour into the fouth-weft arm, where they anchored for the •^^*' 

. , maderat*, 

night. uak 

It rained the fore part of this day, but the latter was ^r. 

Early this morning both the fchooners went to fea ; but as my Fraay 17, 
pilot thought there was too much wind and fea for my boat to ^jMnf' 
work round the Flower Rocks i we lay faft. I went in the 
yawl round the lagoon, and caught twenty lobfters. In the 
evening we fluTted our birth near to Mr. Child's wharf. A boat 
from Trinity to Green's Pond came in here laden with fait. 

Foggy weather. 

Child's people hauled their falmon-net, which was at the head Sanmiay 18. 
of the fouth-welt arm, and had a falmon ; they gave me half of it. *'/'s** 

Vol. m. H At 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

At day-light the Trinity flialtop rowed out c^ tJbe bariMHir 
and went to fea. In the evening two men came by land, from 
^oaayiAa, in fearch of a couple of boys, who ran away from 
(heir maftcr on Friday laft. Thefe men reported that the 
north fide of Bonavilla Bay and the Straight Shore were ftiU 
jammed with ice; and that fome falmoniers, who were bound 
jumuutait '° °"^ °^ ^^ rivers north of Cape Freels, were obliged to 
return for that reafon. 

Thick fog till eleven o'clock, but the reft of the day was to- 
lerably clear. 

Monin ao. ^^ '^"^ '^^ morning a fhallc^ from Trinity to Bonavifta 

n-jTtng. with fell;, put in here by ftrefs of weather. Captaii^ William 

Moor, in the fervice of Lefter and Co. commanded this boat, 

and he had an old methodifl preacher, named Hofkins, a pat 

fcnger, with himj I had them both to eat with me. 

There was a thick fog all day, which cleared away in the 

mderut. cvcning for a (hort time ; it then became as thick as ever 

s^ain, and fb continued all night. 

Tuefdayst. At tix this moming, captain Moor went to feaj but as my 
s. e. Kttit. pilot was of opinion that we could not work round the Flowers, 

and there was a thick fog, I was perfeftly contented to wait for 
£■ Jfm- * ™o''^ favourable opportunity. We made ufe of Mt. Child'b 

houfe as ufual, but always flept on board. 

Wedn«r. SI. At fun-rife we got out of the haibour, but, finding that we 
*■ ^* ^"'*' ^ere not likely to work round Gape Bonavifta before night, 
i.fitjk, returned again. 

Clear till eleven o'clock, thick fog afterwards. 

Tburfaay.3. A thick fog all day. 

N. I. u N. 
«^«»- At 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

At noon I rowed acrofs the harbour, and took a walk upon 
the barrens ; I met with two whabbies in a fmall pond, and 
killed one of them. Abundance of flowers, fuch as I have 
feen in gardens in England, grow fpontaneoufly all round the 
Ihores of this harbour where the woods have been cleared 
away: and there is alfo plenty of good herbage for cattle, 
where the fiflring-rooms formerly flood; particularly, the gold 
cup, which is an excellent fellad when young, and little in- 
ferior to fptnach, when boiled. -&»».■ 

Dark, cold, cloudy weather all day; but in the evening the 
Iky cleared. 

At nine this morning, a breeze fpringing up, we wdnt to Siturfayaj, 

fca; and, keeping outlide of the Brandiccs and Flowers, **^" 

"doubled Gape Bonavifta at one o'clock, and endeavoured to *• f ^* 
work mto Bonavifta Harboui*: but, there being much more lea 

than wind, we tried in vain tiH eleven at night, when we bore ^^ 

away under the forefail only towards the Goofeberry Iflands. ••'"»• 

A fine day and mild night. 

At day-light we (bund ourfelves between Barrow Harbour Suwhy ae, 
and Goofeberry I'fl'ands, with a great deal of fcattered ice about "yMif' 
Bs. We then bore away -along ihore, and on drawing neat 
to the latter, finding that the pilot neither knew where he was, 
nor what courfd to fteer for Green's Pond, I fent him on fhore 
in the yawl to get information. When he returned, obfcrving 
that the courfe he fleered could not be right, as he was run- 
ning' dire^lly' out &y fea; I took the Command of the boat upon 
nvyfelf, aild, ill; tuiJ O'clbriE aiiflvcd fafe in the haAour of 
Green's Pond. From two boats which arrived this morning 
from Fogo, I was informed that the jam of ice was flill dofe 
id with the fhore, from Job Bktt's Point, to the northward of 
it— That a French fhip had lately bcenloft in it near that place, 
H 2 but 



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52 THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

r"^ » but the crew faved by other fhips : — that neither cod nor baits 

June. bad yet made their appearance there. At this place herrings 
are now plentiful ; but not niore than fcven or eight quintals of 
codfifh are yet on Ihore. 
Clear, pleafant weather. 

Mon% 27. I wrote letters to England and Trinity, and fent them to the 
H. w. jTtfii. latter place, by a boat which is bound there. CapUn appeared 

to-day, but the boats brought in very few cod. Mrs. Colling* 

ham and I eat at Mr. Read's houfe. 
Fine weather. 

Tuefd^ *8. Mr. Read, who is agent to Lefter and Co. was fo obliging as 
N,£./rijh. ^ exchange my pilot for a better ; but the wind would not 
permit us to move to-day. Two boats arrived from Fogo, and 
brought word that the Sufui was put into Seldomcomby, not 
being able to proceed farther for the ice. Both cod and caplin 
were very plentiful to-day. Laft night the brig Trinity, belong- 
ing to Lefter and Co. took fire through the careleflhefs of the 
cabbin-boy ; and had not the mafter fortunately perceived it 
time enough to extinguilh the flame, not only this veflei and 
my boat, which was made faft to her, would have been burnt, 
but, in all probability, all the veflels and boats in the harbour; as 
likcwife, all the buildings on both fides : for the whole are built 
of wood, and ftand clofe together; the harbour is very narrow, 
and full of craft. 



Wwinrf. ag. After breakfaft, I went out in the bait{kiff and helped to haul 
a load of caplin. We might with great eafe have laden a (hip ; 
codfilh are in equal plenty. 



£. 5. £. 



Thur% 30. Three boats failed this morning for Fogo, but, there being a 
/^f ' *^^^ ^^* ^ ^^ ^^^ cfaufe to go to fea. Aiter breakfaft obtain 

Moor^ 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 53 

Moor of the Trinity and I went out a (hooting in my yawl ; we <— i^ — \ 
rowed round Pond and Partridge Ifland ; he killed a fea pige- juoe- 
on, and I another and a tinker. In the evening captain WilKam 
Moor arrived in a (hallop, with fait from Trinity. He reported uLu. 
that three of Lefter and Go's bankers were returned fromtheir 
firft trip on the banks, with from four to fix thoufand fiQi each; 
which is but bad fuccefs, as they ought to have caught ten 
thoufand. He alfo told us, that another banker belonging to 
the fame houfe, had been run down and funk by a French 
banker, but the crew were faved. Cod and caplin, he faid, 
were plentiful at Trinity. 

. ■ J"iy. . 

At day-light this morning we got.under fail and went out of ^"^y '• 
the harbour, but the wind loon veering and a thick fc^ coming 
on, returned again. I then went out a Ihooting in my yawl to 
Shag Rock, where IkiUed-ten tinkers and 6ve puf&ns. The 
caplin were very wild to-day, and the cod had ftruck off into ^_ ^ g^ 
deep water. About eleven o'clock the ft^ cleared away* 

I went out of the harbour at a quarter before four this s«iinhy », 
morning;, at feven doubled Cape Freels; at noon, being ^^T' 
paft the wefternmoft of Edmond's Rocks, we direfted our 
courfe for Fogo Ifland, and anchored in the harbour at fix in 
the evening. The Sufan arrived but an hour before us, and 
the fchooner with my goods, got in here on Tuefday laft ; (he im. 
had been twice (laved, by running againft drift ice, and 
obliged to unload to repair. The ice did not go out of this 
harbour, or from off the adjoining coaft, until that day. We 
faw his Majefty's armed brig Lyon at an anchor in Shoal Covej yj,^^ 
where (he was obliged to take (helter from the ice, and was 
near being loft ; (he is commanded, by Lieutenant Michael 
Lane, who is employed to furvey this ifland, and the parts ad- 
jacent. From diflfcrent boats lately arrived from the northern 

partS:, 



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54 



.785. 



WiwiS. S. E. 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

parts of Newfoundland, I was infonned that very great damage 
had been done to the FretKrh (hipping — That an Englifh planter 
had taken four or five Frenchmen from off the Horfe Iflands, 
where they had been cafl away by the ice^ in endeavouring to get 
into a harbour in their boat, and had been there nineteen days, 
without any other food than fuch berries as they could pick 
up, and which had been preferved under the (how all winter ; 
the poor fouls were almoll ftarved to death! Very few feals 
had been caught between this place and Quirpon, either during 
laft winter or in the fpring; no cod had yet appeared to the 
northward of this; and here, only two have been brought in. 

A very fine day, but foon after dark we had a heavy fquall 
of rain and wind, which lafied an hour. 



Sunday 3. 



w. s. w. 

mtdmtt. 



At noon the Lyon came in here, when I waited on my old 
friend captain Lane, who bad with di^cuUy got into Seldom- 
ccffliby ;. where he had been detained by Uie ke, above a month. 

A very fine day. 

Early in the morning- X laid my boat to a wharf-head, and 
had the goods reftowed ; then took in foujr hogfheads of bread, 
two firkins of butter, and fome pine boards. Mrs. Coiiingham 
ajid I fpent the day on board the Lyon, and in the evening I 
waited on Mr. John Slade, and requefted of him to forward my 
goods to BaXtle Harbour, in Labrador, which he readily con- 
tented to do. He had juft received advice from thence by a 
boat, that more, feals had been killed upon that coadlaft fall 
than had ever been known beftwe ; that there had not been 
much ice in the fpring, and that the feafon there was much for- 
warder than in Newfoundland. Cod and caplin were in tole- 
rable plenty here to-day. ■ 

A fine, warm day, but it rained bard moft; part of the nighL 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 



This morning I had my boat moved nearer to the Lyoo, and 
we fpent the day on board that vefiel. In the evening the Stag, jS. 
a brig of Mr. Slide's, failed for a market with old fiih. A boat ^"^ ' 
came in from Funk Ifland laden with birds, chiefly penguins. 

Funk Ifland is a fmall flat ifland-rock, about twenty leagues 
call of the ifland of Fogo, in the latitude of 50° north. Innumera- 
ble flocks of fea-fowl breed upon it every fummer, which are of 
great fervice to the poor inhabitants of Fogo; who make voy- 
ages there to load with birds and eggs. When the water is 
fmooth, they make their fhallop fail to the fhore, lay their 
gang-boards from the gunwale of the boat to the rocks, and 
then drive as many penguins on board, as flie will bold; for, 
the wings of thofe birds being remarkably ftiort, they cannot 
fly. But it has been cuftomary of late yeai^, for feveral crews 
of men to Uve all the lun»ier en that ifland, for the fole 
-purpofe of killing birds for the fake of their feathers, the 
deftrudion which they have made is incredible. ' If a flop is 
not foon put to that praftice, the whole breed will be diminilhed 
to almoft nothing, particularly the penguins: for this is now the 
only ifland they have left to breed upon; all others lying fi>- 
ncar to the {bores of Newfoundland, they arc continually robbed* 
The birds which the people bring from thence, they fait and 
eat, in lieu of faked pork. It is a very extraordinary thing (yet 
a certain fe£l) that the Red, or Wild Indians, of Newfoundland 
Ihould every year vifit that ifland; for, it is not to be fecn from 
the Fogo hills, they have no knowledge of the compafs, nor 
ever had any intercourfe with any other nation, to be in- 
ibrmed of its fituation. How they came by their information, 
will moft likely remain a fecret among: themfelves. 

A fine day. 

At 



55 



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TburOay;* 






THE SIXTH Voyage. 

At four this morning I went on fhore, and bought feventeen 
foxtrapsof captain Cheater; then called on Mr. Lane, and at 
feven went to fea. There being but little "wind all day, and 
none in the evening, we then towed into Herring Neck, and 
anchored at eight o'clock at night. This harbour is not a con- 
venient one for the fifheries ; being too hilly all round the (hores. 
I found no inhabitants here. 

A very fine day. 

At feven o'clock this morning I went in the yawl with four 
hands to two ifland-Kx;ks, which lie off the mouth of this har- 
bour and are frequented by tinkers ; I- fhot four, and a brafs- 
winged diver. I afterwards rowed round the grcateft part 
of the harbour, which is fpacious and fafe ; it is- very long 
and narrow, with great plenty of firewood about it. In the 
afternoon I took a (hort WE^k upon a point of land, near which 
we lay, and there ktUed an eider-duck. 

A dear day. 

Alffour this morning we went to fca, and kept out fide of 
Gull Ifland, off Twillingate; we then fleered for Cape St. 
John, and paffed it at one o'clock ; when it began to blow 
very hard, with continual and heavy rain, which reduced 
us to clofe-recfed fails ; and it was as much as we could do, 
to carry them, being twice obliged to let fly the forefhect, to 
prevent upfetting. At eight o'clock we got into the harbour 
of Flewr de Lis, where we found a floop of war, two large (hips, 
and four brigs ; all French. The former was commanded by 
Monfieur Le Tourneur, who foon after came on board and ex- 
amined me, reipefbng my lading and dellination. This is an 
excellent harbour, and it was fortunate that we got into it ; for 
the night proved dark and flormy, and there are many fcatter- 

cd 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

«d pieces of ice along fhore. Few cod are on fhore here yet, 
but caplin are very plentiful. 



57 



After break&fl Mrs. CoUingham and I received an invitation Saturday 9. 
to dine with captain Le Tourneur, commander of the Corvette s_ S%(^t 
Le Coureur, which we accepted. At the fame time captain 
John Rozee, who commands one of the fiftiing-fliips, came on 
board and invited us to his houfe, where we fpent both the 
forenoon and the evening. I was informed that all the French 
fliips had arrived, except two large ones which were loft in the 
ice, but the crews of both were faved. Many c^ their veflels 
had received great damage; twoofthofe in this harbour had 
their bows ftaved, and were with difficulty preferved from 
linking. The French have alfo a lixty gun Ihip flationed up- 
on the north- weft coaft of this ifland ; and I was told that the 
tommanders of both veffels had orders to turn all the Englilh 
fcttlers out of the French diftrift. 
. Eark, foggy weather. 

At ten this morning captain Le Tourneur failed in his long Sun<iay 10. 
boat, armed with a fwivel gun, on a cruife to furvey White ' '■^'^* 
Bay. Mrs. CoUingham and I dined with captain Pommelec. 

A clear day. 

We breakfafted with Monfieur Le Breton, the furgeon of Monday n. 
■one of the filhing-fhips, and at eleven o'clock went to fea; but "Va^' 
a calm coming on, we towed into the harbour again, and moor- 
ed between the firft point and the ifland. We then went on 
fliore, and fpent the remainder of the day with captain Rozee; 
who was long time a prifoner in England, in the war before laft, "^* 
and fpeaks very highly of the treatment he met with. As I 
was returning on board in the evening, Rozee told me that two 
Vol. m. I of 



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68 THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

'"J— — 1 of my boys Had laid a plan to run away in ihe night, which 

joiy, made me order Tilfed to watch them, and at eleven o'clock, he 

caught them juft as they were ftcpping into the yawl with their 

dothes. 

The forenoon was cloudy, and it rained hard all the after- 



Tvetaiy 1*. Early in the morning we unmoored, in order to go to fea ; 

J^^Mt ^u' the wind dying away, we moored again, and fpent the 

^i/rf»Uf (Jay with captain Rozee, who gave me a pair of irons, into 

which 1 put the two runaways, and fed them on bread and 

"*" ivater only. 

Cloudy and fqually in the morning ; the ted of the day, it 
rained continually. 

Wnkcr. 13. At eight this morning we towed out of the harbour, and at 
tghi «r.. Q^j o'clock towed in again. 

*"'^^' Clear till four in the afternoon ; we had then a heavy thun- 
der ftorm, and the night was foggy with fmall rain. 



TlwrChy 14, 
N. t,fn/h. 



Hgktamr 



Caplin have been very plentiful ever lince we came in here, 
butcodjsfcarce; and to-day none were to bemet with. 1 for- 
got to mention before, that while we were lying in Catalina X 
had a relapfe of the Sciatica ; it has increafed. ever fince, and 
now I am very lame and in great pain. 

A rainy ds^. 

I fent Tilfed out a Ihooting with a brother of captain Rozee, 
who commands another filhing-fliip ; he killed a groufe and two 
young black-ducks. Some of the boats brought in a few fifii. 
from the Horfe Uands. 

A clear day. 

1 releafe* 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

1 releafed the two boys (Thompfon and Litchfield) out of 
irons, and allowed them to eat with the reft of the people as 
ufual ; at eight 6'clock we towed out of the harbour, and 
made fail acrofs AVhite Bay. At ten at night we came to an 
anchor and moored in the fouth-wefl: arm of Great Harbour 
Peep, or Orange Bay. 

A clear day, but in the evening a fc^ gathered upon the 
hills, and it was very thick all night. 

We rowed round both the arms of this harbour ; the north- SuD<hy 17. 
well is by much the largeft. The (hores all round are very '^■^■f'-^' 
high, ftcep, and rocky, but well clothed with wood, particularly 
birch, proper for cooper's ufe j the reft is fit for firing only, 
I faw a fmall black-bear walking by the fide of one of the hills, 
and fired at it out of the boat, at the diftance of about a hun- 
dred yards, but miffed. Veffels muft run a long way up either 
of the arms, before they can anchor, as the water is very deep, 
clofe into the ftiores. Three fmall rivulets, and feveral ftreams 
of water empty themfelves into this harbour. 

There was a thick fog all day. 

Early in the morning I went out in the yawl, and examined Monday 18. 
the North Cove, which lies at the mouth of the bay, and after ^- ^* ^'^• 
breakfaft, went out again ^vith four hands, and explored the 
South Cove, which is oppofite to the former. I obferved, that 
t*he French had formerly a fiftiing-room in each, but they are 
both very wild places, fit only for boats to ride in. We faw 
many French boats a filhing, fome of which I fpoke to, and 
begged four fifii of them. They belong to a ftiip which lies 
in Cow Cove, but have killed very few fifh this feafon. We *• ^- ^'"*' 
caught feven fi(h with jiggers. 

At noon we had a heavy Ihower ofrain, attended with thun- 
der ; the reft of the day was fine. 

I2 . We 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

We got up our anchors foon after day -light, and went to* 
fea. We fell in company with eight Englilh boats, bound to^ 
the northward. " At half pafl: fix in the evening, the wind fliort- 
ening, we bore up for Englee, and anchored there at half pad 
feven. Three of the Englifh boats did the fame, from whom 
I learnt that they belonged to Mr. Tory and his planters, came 
from Sops arm, at the head of White Bay, and were going to • 
Labrador; as fifh were fo fcarce, that they had not killed above 
a quintal each. I found three French fliips lying here, and 
N.£.uau. very few filh on (hore. One Englifh planter lives in this 
harbour. 

A very fine, warm day. 

Wednef. ao, Wc wcnt to fca at day-light, and at eight o'clock, being be- 
^k''flt"lnt cammed, off Conch, Mrs. CoUingham and I went in the yawl 
taimt. ^ith two hands into the harbour to vifit captain Dagunet, who 
commands one of thofe fliips which put into Trinity this 
fpring. I fcnt the boat back immediately, with orders for the 
FoK to proceed to Carouge, and there wait for us. We were 
politely received and entertained by captain Dagunet ; and in 
the evening he carried us to the head of the harbour, in one of 
his boats, from whence he walked with us acrofs the ifthmus to - 
Carauge. He there introduced us to another French captain, 
who entertained us with variety of confeflionary and wines, 
and at night we re-embarked on board the Fox, which arrived 
a little^ before us. In Conch were- eight French veflels, and 
eleven in Carouge. The fifliery has been very fuccefsful in 
both thefe harbours, as the ground will admit of the ufe of 
ieines ; Dajunet had upwards of two hundred quintals of fifh 
brought in, by one o'clock to-day ; and in the whole, he has 
killed above a hundred quintals for each bo^it The fhores of 
thefe harbours are level, and luxuriant in good herbage. 
A fine day, but feme hard rain in the afternoon. 

At 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 61 

At half paf^ two this morning, we towed out of. the harbour 
and came to fail; and, at half after five in the evening, came to 
an anchor in the harbour of Quirpon, which is the northern- 
moll one in Newfoundland, and formed by a large, high ifland, 
which gives name to the harbour; the north-eaft point of which, 
is called Cape Quirpon, is the north-eaft extremity of New- 
foundland, and is in fight of Labrador. Here we found 
feveral French Ihips, and were well received by captain Gui- 
delou, who commanded the Monfieur privateer in the laft war, 
during her firft cruife ; when, in the fpace of four months, he 
took twenty-eight prizes on the coafts of England and Ireland. 
For which fervices, he was honored with a fword, and a letter 
of thanks from his king. He is much of a gentleman, fpeaks 
EngUlh tolerably well, having formerly been a prilbner in En- tp, /^rt 
• gland ; he has a great refpeS; for our nation, and takes every 4'"'7i»«'if. 
opportunity of rendering fervices to the Englifti in this part . 
of the world. He is a proprietor of the greateft French houfe 
in the Newfoundland trade, and has the direction of all their 
concerns on this fide of the Atlantic. Here alfo, and in almoft 
every harbour between this place and Conch, the filhery has 
been good: but in thofe within the Straights of Bell Ifle, and 
Gulph of St. Lawrence it has failed greatly. 

The morning was dull, and a fog hung on the tops of the 
hills till noon, when we had a heavy Ihower of large hail ; the 
weather was clearer afterwards. 

I fent my people with the dogs to try for a fox on the ifland ^"^^y 
of Quirpon, but they could not find any. A boat of Noble 
and Pinfon's came in from Temple Bay, with letters for England 
to go by way of France, and failed immediately for Hare Bay.. 
We fpent the day with captain Guidelou. 

A cloudy day, with fog on the hill tops. 

I: wrote 



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52 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 



<— j-J— ^ I wrote a letter to my brother John, as Guidelou will fend 

July. a fhip ofF for Marfeillcs in a few days. 
mZ ^' Thick fo?, and hard rain all dav. 

N.E.Uri. ° ' 

Sunday «4. The fifticnnen reported, that there was a very great fea along 

s. £. Jtoi^. f}iQj.g^ My fciatic pains are very fcvere now. 
Thick fog, and fome rain. 



Monday £5. 
5. E.Jre^. 

TueTday s6. 
E. N. E. 



Thick fog, with much rain all day. 

In the evening Noble and Pinfon's boat returned, and failed 
for Temple Bay. 
Thick fog, and fmall rain. 



Wednef. ay. 
N. E. Uttk. 
E. S. E. 
wudtratct 

S. madtraie. 
S. S. W. 



Thick fog till eleven o'clock^ when the wind veered round, 
and the flty cleared. 

Seven Englilh boats came in here to-day, from TwiUingate 
and White Bay, in their way to Labrador ; there bemg no hfh 
to the Ibuthward of Conch. 

Dull till ten this morning, thick fog, with ibrae rain at inter- 
vals all the reft of the day. 

All the Englilh boats failed for Labrador to-day ; and three 
more came in from the fouthward. One of Guidelou's vefiels 
failed for Marfeilles with fifh, and I fent my letter by her. 
Not liking the weather, I would not move. 

Thick fog till noon, dull the reft of the day ; the night was 
ftormy with rain. 



Sahirday 30. Stiong galcs. With thickfog all day; more moderate in 
*'^"^' evening. 



the 



Six 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

Six Eng^fh boats from Fogo and Twillingate came in here 
to-day ; one of which ran foul of mine, but did not do her any 
damage. Two families of mountaineer Indians (old captain 
Jack, and John Babtifta) came in here from the weftward, in 
two French batteaux, intending to go to the iHand of Bell IQe 
a deer-fiiooting; there being great numbers upon it. 

Cloudy weather. 

At five o'clock this morning we got under fail with a light MoJlEy'i, 
wind, and at fix were out of the harbour, where we found **£,^' 
a frefher breeze, and an ugly, crofs fca; which grew worfe,un- 
t.l we got clofe in with the land of Labrador. The wind being 
fcant, and the tide againfl. us, we could not weather Caftle Reef. 
When we came within half a mile of Caftle Ifland, we found 
as much wind as we could bear with a reef in the fails. Faffing s. w.fnjh 
to leeward of that, and Henly Ifland, we ran into Antelope 
Tickle; our forefail and jib at that inftant giving way, we let go 
an anchor, but being too near Antelope Ifland, there was not 
room to bring up ; confcquently we tailed on Ihore, and the 
boat got feveral thumps on the rocks before wc could lay out mdtra^, 
the other anchor, and warp her oiF again : had Ihe gone on 
Ihore twenty yards lower down, her bottom would foon have 
been beat out. We then weighed the firft anchor, and warped 
her up to the weft end of the tickle, and there moored. Soon 
after I went in the yawl with four hands into Temple Bay, and 
waited upon captain Nichols, of His Majefty's floop Echo, who 
received me with the greateft pohtenefs, and invited me to dine 
with him on the morrow. I drank tea on board the Echo, and y;,^, 
returned at night. A few curlews had been feentO'day, and 
captain Nichols had killed one. 

The day was cloudy, and the evening very foggy. 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

Mrs. Collingham and I dined on board the Echo with cap- 
tain Nichols, and we all went on (hore at Lance Cove, and drank 
tea with Mr. William Pinfon; who is agent to Noble and Pinfon, 
and fon of the latter. Two families of Efquimaux, part of 
fome who lived laft winter at the Ifle of Ponds, are now 
here, but no others have been feen hereabouts this fummer. 
Two men of that nation were (hot laft year at Cape Charles, by 
two others {Tukelavinia and Adlucock) for the fake of their 
wives, which is the reafon that the reft did not come as ufuaK 
Captain Nichols very obligingly ordered my fails to be mended, 
and alfo gave me another jib. The English boats, which I 
left in Quirpon, came acrofs to-day, and anchored in lemple 
Bay. The Indians brought in a young hind, which they killed 
ycfterday. Very few filh have been caujjht here yet, and none 
for a week paft. At Ance-a-Loup and parts adjacent, the fiftiery 
has been pretty fuccefsful. I faw one flock of curlews. 

Some fog in the morning, but the reft of the day was clear. 

WeJnef. 3, At eight this morning we got under weigh, and attempted to 
5. r. littk. work into Temple Bay ; but it blowing frefli in Whale Gut, 
and finding that we could gain no ground, we bore up, ran out 
to fea through Antelope Tickle, and made fail for Battle Har- 
bour, where we arrived at two o'clock, as did the Fogo boats. 
Here \ had the pleafure of finding all my goods (except two 
thoufand feet of pine boardsj arrived from Fogo. There are 
only a hundred quintals of fifti for each boat on fliore at this 
place, and none to be caught now. 
A fine cloudy day, in the evening fome fmall rain fell. 



TliuHaa]r4. 



It blew hard, with fog and rain all the day ; but was clearer 
jv. s. iard* and more moderate in the evening. No boats went out a fifhing 
to-day. 

Every 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

Evcrjr thiiig in the boat being very wet and taking great da- 
mage, I had a thorough drying of the goods, which prevented 
my embracing, fo ftoe an opportunity of proceeding. Two of 
Mr. Slade's boats came in from Bell lQe» laden with fifli ; and all 
the boats here had filh in great plenty. The crews of thefe 
boats inarmed us, that one.of the Mountaineer families which 1 
left at Quirpon, went to Bell Ifle the day that I lailed 6om 
thence, and on their return were caft away, in a gale of wind, 
upon the iQand of Quirpon, where aU of them perilhed. In 
the evening, I went out in the yawl, and caught twenty-fix 
codfilh. A clear, delightful day. 

At four this morning we towed out of the harbour, and an- SjojiAjt 6. 
chored upon one of the filhing ledges, in company with fixteen "'*• 
boats (moll of them Irom Newfoundland) and caught nieety- 
fix codfilh. At eight o'clock a light air fpringing up, I 
fcnt ninety of the fifli on board a boat belonging to aj> old fer- ^^^f- 
vant of mine, who has lately Commenced merchant in a fmall 
way, and then made laiL At three o'clock this afternoon we 
heaved off Cape St. Francis, and delivered two letters to Jagnes 
Macey, whom I met with hfliing in one of his own boats. ■•&r«<'' 
From thence we proceeded to Fifhing-lhips Harbour, where 
we anchored and moored at four o'clock. 1 rowed round the 
harbour, and killed a Ihellbird. i^M. 

A clear day. 

Eariy this momiog we got Samt wood and water on board, &taiiy ,. 
and ai five o'ckick came to laik We were no fooner out of the *^^f ■ 
harbour's mouth, than I dil<x>vered a bind and calf upon a hill, 
on the continent.* We immediatdy came to an anchor, and 
went after t*"-™, but they were gone before we could get to 
Vol. III. K the 

» This buboiu u (onned by diree iOandi lying puallel to the continent. 



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66 



MtHid^ 8. 

IFitid 
S. £.JmaTt. 



N.IF. 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

the place. However, I had the pleafure of difcovering two 
good harbours, which were not obfervedby lieutenant Lane, 
when he was furveying this part of the coaft in 1770. At half 
after eight we came to fail again, and arrived in Venifon Har- 
bour at one o'clock, where we moored. In the evening I took 
a fhort walk upon Stoney Ifland, where I met with a hind and 
calf, and got a long fbot at the latter, but mifled her. At the 
fame time I fent Tilfed out in the yawl with three boys, who 
brought in nine cod, three fea-pigeons, two whabbies, and a 
lady. A very fine day. 

I fent Tilfed in the yawl with three boys to the outer iflands, 
and they brought in thirty cod, fourteen lords and ladies, and 
four young pigeons. 

Thick fog, with rain all day ; clear at night. 

After breakfaft I went in the yawl with four hands into the 
cove to the north-weft of this harbour, where we landed, and 
beat the north-weft end of Stoney Illand : we faw a good ftag 
and a brace of hares, but could not get a ftiot at any of them. 

A fine day, though we had a few light fqualls of wind and 
rain about noon. 



At five this morning we got up our andiors and came to fail, 
and at a quarter after four in the afternoon anchored and 
mo<H%d for the night, in Indian Tickle. I fent William and 
Alexander a (hooting upon the ifknd> but they faw nothings 
I took a (hort walk upon the -main, and faw a yellow-fox ; I 
then crofled over to the iftand, and looked at th; houle where 
my people lived the winter before laft, and found it full of 
empty cafks, vatt-planks, and other things) there was alfo, a. 
^ood fealing-fluff hauled upon the beech. 

A fine day; 

At 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 67 

At fix this morning we came to fail; at half paft four, doubled '-j-J — » 

Cape North -, and at feven, came to an anchor in Iflhmus Bay, Augdi. 

oppofite the houfe which I built immediately after the privateer Th"'«»y "• 

left me in the year 1778: and in which I Uved, that winter. Ihad i^utnd 

the pleafure to find it unoccupied, and in as good condition '*""'*'• 
as poflible. I immediately took pofleflion of it; intending to 
make it my refidence in future. 

A very fine day. 



>A 



Early in the morning we warped the Fox to the head of the Friiiy la. 
old ftone-wharf, and, in the courfe of the day, landed moft of ^'fi,^,' 
the goods. I hung my tent up to the beams of the dining-room, 
made my bed on the floor, and fpread the tent round it. In 
theevening, Tilfed walked round Martin's Cove, where he killed 
an eider-duck, and law the flot of one deer only, but no tracks 
of bears. A very fine day. 

We landed the remainder of the goods, and in the evening, %mt^j 13. 
carried all the traps to Great Ifland ; where I put them into a ^Sa.' 
pond. 

The weather was very fine till fix o'clock, when we had a J^^_ y__ 
{light thunder dorm. 

The Fox was ballalled; Tilfed examined an old fkiflF which lies Sunday 14. 
upon Slink Point, and found her unferviceable ; alfo he fliot a ^^,. 
hare. At noon I went out in the yawl, with four hands, to the 
outer end of Long Ifland, and kiUed 6fty codfifli, five ladies, 
three young gulls, and an old one. e. 

A very fine day. 

I had the window-frames put together (for 1 brought them Mooiiy 15. 
out in pieces, for the convenience of ftowagej I ordered f-Z^'J^- 
K 2 fome 



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A^ 



KIT. 

awdtratt. 



Jf.E. 



Wednef. 17. 






THE SrXTil VOYAGE. 

fome provitions to be put on board the Fox, and fbme other 
neceffary bufinefs to be done. In the afternoon I crawled 
upon the hill (for I am now fo exceffively lame that I caimot 
walk above ten yards at a time withoutfittingdown to reft, and 
am in fuch inexpreiSible torment, that life is a burthen to me) 
and fat there watching for geefe and curlews till the evening, 
but none came near me; the latter are very fcarce yet. 
A delightful day. 

A few caflts of dry goods were opened and fome hatchets helv- 
ed. At noonabrigcameintotheharbour, and anchored where 
my fliips ufed to do. I went on board, and found her to be 
the Mary ..William Dier mafter; bound from Paradife toTem^ 
pie Bay with falmon. I brought Mr. Dier on fliore to dine 
with me, and was informed by him, that the filhery in Sand- 
wich Bay had proved very indififerent ; producing only three 
hundred and ninety-five tierces of fifib in Paradife, and Eagle 
River ; That very few Indians had been at the former place 
this fummer; that they had but little to fell,, and were all gone 
home fome time fince. 

Thick fog till noon, when it cleared away. 

Ifent-the Fox- to Great Ifland, &r fohieof the timber of the 
old houfes and ftage; fbe returned with a fmall load in the 
evening. I glazed the dining-room windows, and tacked them 
in their places for tl^prefeot.. 

Dark weather. 

Early in the morning; ttie Mary Jailed for Temple B^y; and 
at eleven o'clock I failed in the Fox, with four hands, &r Pa- 
radife, to carry Mrs. Collingham home. We lowered the lails, 
and drifted.for a IhorC time in. Blackguard. Bay to fifh, and 

cau^ 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

caught eleven cod. At fix ia the evening, we cane to anchor 
in Cartwright Harbour, 
A very fine day. 

The wind being againll us, I employed the people in pulling / jJ'Vf^, 
down the old (loFe-houfe and kitchen (which were all that 
were left of my former dwelling-houfe) and in laying the tim- 
ber of them ready for taking on board the boat at a future op- 
portunity, for firewood. *'^* 

A very fine, hot day. 

At four thfs afternoon, we towed up to Scotdi and Irilh ^""^ ">• 
Point; where we anchored to wait for wind. I then fent Tilled 
a ihooting upon Earl liland i he returned at nine, with a black- 
duck and a fpruce game. In the mean time I killed two ran- ^> ^• 
gers out of the boat, but one of them funk, juft as the yawl got '**' "~ 
to it. We then came to lail, and arrived at pantdile at four in 
the afternoon; where we found Mr. CoUingham in good health. 

A very fine day. 

In the afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. CoUingham accompanied me Sunaay n, 
to Friend's Point, to look at a Mountaineer canoe and pick "'"'*• 
currants. 

Clear, hot weather. 

Had a quantity of mofs, two hogtheads of fait, and fome of Moi«% i>, 
my old wearing apparel, which I left here when laQ in this *"'-y™» 
country, put on board the Fox. 

Cloudy weather all day, and fome fog in the afternoon. 

Fog and rain aU day,, ''°^''"- 

There. 



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70- 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 



r-^j^— t There was fo iharp a froft this morning, that ice was half an 
Aupi. inch thick. Thick fog all day. 

My people were employed in making nets for deer and hares. 
Thick fog all day again. 

Friday 26. The men were employed as yefterday, and the fame weather 
continued. 



ThurGlay S5. 
N. E. Hub. 



Satuiday ay The fcrvants were netting in the morning, and in the after- 
noon I fent them into the woods to cut firewood. 
Thick fog all day ; rained till noon. 

^ ' ■ At nine this morning we towed down the river, then came to 
fail and worked down the bay, to within a mile o' Duck iiljnd; 
when, finding that we could not make a harbour hf^fore dar L, 
and obferving a thick fog coming on again, we turned back, and 
anchored oppofite to the wood which was cut yefterday. 
Clear, cold weather till the evening ; then foggy. 

The Fox was filled with firewood up to the thwarts, and I 
then fent her down, oppofite to the rubbingplace on the north 
fide of Hinchingbrook Bay. 

Thick fog all day, but clear in the evening. 

TiKflqrso. Thick fc^ all day, 

WedneC 31. At eight this morning I went onboard the Fox, towed through 
the narrows, and came to fail with a light air of wind; at eight 
at night, we came to an anchor in Muddy Bay ; in which we 
found, many thoufands of black-divers. 
A bright, hot day. 

At 



Monday B9, 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. yi 

At fix this morning we walked round the falt-water pond at * — ^ — » 
the bead of the bay, and there found forty-fix inch-boards ; Sepu^. 
which had been fawn four years ago, but had not been brought tn^^j^ 
away. We rafted them down and took them on board; then 
made fail for Cartwright Harbour, where we anchored at two w./r^. 
o'clock, and in the evening brought off a yawl load of bricks 
from Caribou Caftle. I fent Tilled round the back-fliore, who 
brought in feven curlews, and twenty-feven large beach-birds. 
I killed two others on the point. 

A clear, hot day. 

At five this morning, I fent the boys on (hore for the re- FnJiy «-• 
mainder of the bricks, which they brought off at eight : when 
we made fail for E^-rock Cove, where we anchored until I went 
on fhore to look for a particular Hone, which I law there feven 
years ago ; but, not being able to find it, we proceeded for Ifth- 
mus Bay. At fix in the evening, the wind being contrary, we 
ran infide of the fouth Hare liland, and came to an anchor op- 
pofite to a fmall beach near the north end, in feven fathoms o£ 
water and on very good holding ground. 

A clear day. 

At five this morning we came to faili Abreaft of Venifon Saturiaj- 3^ 
Head, wc were very near running foul of a piece of drift-ice, 
which would have ftaved die boat; At half paft feven o'clock 
I arrived fafe at home, well pleafed at having got to the end of 
my voyage; having foiled two hundred leagues. I found that 
the foxhound bitch had whelped, and one of the buck rabbits 
was dead 1 had two beams of a platform put out, on polls and 
ifaores, at the head of the old wharf, for landing goods upon, and 
my bedftead fet up, I was fo much better of my lamenefs to-day, 
as to be able to walk to the fecond break in Slink Point, which 
is three quarters of a mile, where I killed four curlews and a. 

raven.. 



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ya- THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

r — ^- — > r»ven. Curlews are vtry plentiful now ; we faw innumerable 
StpJba. flocks on Venifon Head, as we pafled it 

A doudy day, with a little rain in the afteioooo. 

Sinday 4. The foreDooo was dark and ftormy, but the afternoon proved 
""w "'■ better, and the clouds broke. 

>*■ 
(Moniys. In the courfe of the day the people finilhed the platform; 

^'■fi!/^ they likewife chinced my bed-room, and part of the dining- 
room with mofs. In the evening I placed a hare-net acrofe this 
end of Shnk Point, and had it beat by two of the boys and 
three dogs, but found nothing. At noon, a fliallop belonging 
to Nobje and Pinfon, arrived here from Table Bay, and brought 
part of my proyiiions from Battle Harboui;. Mr. WiU,a)u J}..;c, 
late mafter of the Mary, came in this boat, and brouglu (c ae 
people to complete the winter crews at Paradife, where he 
is to be fuperintendent, and as Ibon as he had landed my 

i. s. w. goods, he failed for that place. My late poQeliions in Sandwich 
•'*''' Bay, together with what goods remained there, were fold lift 
winter,bymy affignees,tD NobleandPinfon-, for the paltry fum 
of two hundred and fifty pounds: whereas, the goods akuie, of 
which Mr. Colhngham fcnt home an inventory, were valued by 
him at two hundred and eighty pounds ; and I bad informed 
my aflignees, that the filhing-pofts and the buildings thereon, 
were well worth a thoufand pounds. But Mr. Robert Hunter, 
merchant in London, who is the ailing affigaee, does a great 
deal of bufinefs by commiSion, for Noble and Pinfon ; there- 
fore it is no wonder, that my property was fold by private 
contraS to thcrfe people; rather than by public auSion 
at Poole; as I defired it might be. I muft confcfj, that 
J cannot help feeling greatly hurt, that Noble and Pinfoo, who 
, have been my inveterate enemies ever fince ] firft came to this 
country, fliould get, for leg than nothing, p<i8e£Qans, which coft 

me 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 73 

me fo much labour, to find out, and money to eltablifh. Had <— ■''— < 

they given a fair price for them, I fliould have been contented, sc^Lito 
and my creditors would not have been injured. 
Cloudy weather. 

The Fox was brought to the wharf, unloaded and then moor- ''"^ 6. 
ed off again. I made three deer-flips of drag-twine, and the peo- s. K 

pie chinced part of the dining-room. j,_ ^^ ^^ 

Cloudy till ten o'clock, and rain the reft of the day. 

Part of the dining-room was chinced, the window put into Wednif; 7. 
my bed-room, two hogflieads of bread aired, and fome grafs 
cut for hay for the rabbits. At noon 1 fent William to put out 
fome duck-fnares, by the pond under Berry Hill ; he reported, 
that he faw a fox, the tracks of many others, and the flot of (e- 
veral deer. At the fame time I went upon Slink Point, to way- 
lay the geefe which I knew he would dillurb, and fired at two ; 
one of which I ftruck, but did not kill it. In the evening, I 
fent Tilfed round Martin's Cove to flioot geefe, but he faw 
none. 

A fine day. 

Both the windows in the dining-room were put in, the reft TiwfChrS. 
of the bread aired, the bricks brought up to the houfe, and ^^i,. 
fome firewood piled. At noon I went in the punt with two 
hands, and tailed one of the flips in the path which crofles this 
neck of land into Martin's Cove, and the other two, in the path 
which is at the head of the harbour. I faw a great number of 
geefe and black-ducks, but not many curlews, as they are now 
going faft away to the fouthward ; I killed three. At eight 
o'clock at night, a man arrived with a letter from Mr. Colling- 
ham, informing me, that Mr. Dier had forcibly feized upon all 
his whalebone, oil, and furs, together with what belonged to my 
Vol. UI. L affignees 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

affignees and myfelf, and had font the whole to Mr. William 
Pinfon, at Temple Bay. Mr. CoUingham reqaefted of me to 
go immediately to Paradife in my boat, to bring himfelf, his 
wife and ba^age away from thence, as he had no other chance 
of getting from that place, nor any means of living at it. This " 
man came from Paradife in Noble and Pinfon's fliallop, and 
having Collingham's canoe with him, landed in the rocky cove 
in Venifon Head, from whence he walked to my houfe. 

This was a hot day, but the late cold weather has pinched the 
mofchetos fo much, that they are now fcarcely able to bite. 

At day-light I had the Fox brought to the wharf, her fails 
bent, and ballafled, and at nine o'clock (he failed for Paradife, 
under the command oi Tilfed, with whom I fent Mr. Colling- 
ham's man, and one of my boys. The remainder of the dining- 
room was chinced, tl^ kitchen began upon» and the beams of 
the old ftage were cut and piled up. 

A fine day. 

This morning I found one c^the wood-piles had fallen down 
in the night, upon my empty bottles, and broke the greatelt 
part of them. The remainder of the kitchen, and part of the 
ftore-room were chinced. At noon I fent William round 
Blackguard Bay ; he fhoC two auntfaries, and found a broken 
trap. I fent Jack and Twn in the puijt to vifit the fartheft 
deer-flips, but there was nothing in them. I killed five cur- 
lews befcH^ the door in the morning, and fat oa Slink Point in 
the afternoon, watching for gcefe; fcveral black-ducks flew 
over me, but too high to kill any. I fet the ftove up, in the 
dining- room. 

Foggy till near noon, clear and warm, afterwards. 

Iread 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

I read prayers to my little family this tnoming, and wrote 
letters all the reft of the day. 
A fine day. 

At one o'clock this morning the Fox returned and brought 
Mr. Collingbam and his wife, and alfo his baggage : likewife all 
the remainder of thofe goods which formerly belonged to me, 
and had either by accident or midake not been mentioned in 
the inventory ; Mr. Colhngham having put them up to auction, 
and bought them himfelf for fixty-two pounds ten fliiUings. He 
alfo fold thofe goods which are now in the houfe on Indian 
Ifland, and they were bought by my boatfmafler for me. As 
foon as it was light I had the fhallop brought to the wharf, the 
goods landed, the boat ballafted and then moored off. This 
day Mr. Collingham and I agreed to enter into partnerihip for 
fo long time as (hould be hereafter determined upon. In the 
courfe of the day I finiOied all my letters. 

The forenoon was cloudy, and the remainder of the day was 
foggy with linall rain. 

I had provilions put on board the Fox. Shipped Andrew Tuefdiy igi 

Crane (the man who brought the letter from Mr. Collingham) * *^' '"'*' 
for twelve months; wages twelve pounds. ^'^ 

Clear, fine weather. 



At two o'clock this morning Mr. Collingham failed for Tem- 
ple Bay in the Fox, with Tilfed, Will, and Jack, to demand, 
from Mr. William Pinfon, reftitution for the ftolen goods, and 
in cafe of refufal to proceed to England to lay the cafe before 
His Majefty's miniftcrs, and alfo to endeavour by law to obtain 
redrefe. In the courfe of the day I had the partition between 
my bed-room and the dining-room pulled down, and a loft made 
of it over the other bed-room, on which I flowed many fraall 
L 2 things. 



WeJnef. 14; 



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76 THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

'——J — 1 things. The little bed-room being chinccd, a camp bedftead 
September, was pitched in it for Mrs. CoUingham. 

A cloudy day with fome fliowcrs of rain, 

THnriiiay »5' Crane was employed in making rafters for a new roof to the 

K. N. E, kitchen. Alexander pared fods, and Tom cut grafs for hay. I 

^^ fowed fome nuts and apple pippins on the fide of the hill at the 

back of the houfe, where I am of opinion they will thrive, if 

they will do fo in any part of this country. In the evening 

Mrs. CoUingham accompanied me in the yawl to look, at the 

f,g^^^^ flips at the head of the harbour, but wc had no fuccefe, 

A clear, cold day, and fharp froft at night. 

Friiir t6. Some frefli (hores were put under the platform, more rafters 

^•ffilif; made, fome grafs cut, and the hay which is made flowed in a 

cafk. I ganged a fet of hooks for a boat's crew, and in the even* 

ing took a walk upon the hill at the back of the houfe, where 

/Tffl. 1 faw a curlew and killed a bird called a. boatfwain. 

The ground was white over with frofl this morning, but the 
day proved clear and warm. 

Stturfiy 17, After breakfaft I went out in the yawl with three hands, and 
'iiuu.' tried the ledges by Green and Long Iflands for fifh, but caught 
N. uau. ^^y '^^ fculpins. I Ihc^ two black-ducks, one eider-duck, a 
lord, and a gull. 
A very fine day. 

Sundcy 18. ^ ^^"' Crane and Alexander to bring home the canoe by land^ 
but the latter got into it and endeavoured to come by water, 
which he did part of the way, but being afraid to venture 
round the head, he hauled it up and returned. by land; he 
lulled a grey-plover and five beach-birds. I put a large blifter 

on 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

on the lower part of my thigh ; my pains being much worle 
again. 
A dear, fine day. ^ 

Early in the morning, I fent two hands to Great Ifland for Wcmtty 19. 
fome timber to make beams and rafters for the flore<room; and ^^ z^iut. 
when they returned, I fet them to pare more fods. ,. 

Fair in the morning, fo^jy the reft of the day, and in the 
evening it fet in for rain. 

More fods were pared, and fome drag>twine balled off. I TmSSay »•• 
put a blifter on the outer part of my left leg, and renewed that *■ '* ■^^' 
on my thigh. Mrs. CoIIingham was making my bed-curtains. 
In the evening two hands looked at the flips, but they had. 
nothing in them. 

Fog all day, and fome fliowers of rain. 

Crane and Alexander were at work all day on the rafters, WedoeT. lu 
and Mrs. CoIIingham on my bed-curtains. In the evening. (he «*«*• 
accompanied me in the yawl to the ncareft flip, in which we 
found a white-bear had been caught, and from the appearance 
of the place, I believe it would have held him, had it been a 
litde ftronger ; for he had ftruggled a long time, and torn up -^'^ 
feveral young trees before he could break it. At night I made 
another of twelve parts of twine ; the former, was only eight. 

Clear till ten o'clock, then foggy till four ; cloudy afterwards. 

Mrs. CoIIingham and I went out in the yawl this morning xhuriaiy si, 
with two hands. I tailed the flip which I made laft night, in ^- ''«*^- 
the fame place where the other was broken ; and the largefl 
double-fpring trap, between the two ponds on the Ifthmus. 
Returning to the boat at two o'clock we found her aground, 
aad were obliged to wait till after flx, for the tide's coming in. e. 

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7? THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

*■ g, ♦ ladie mean time I (eat the men to look at the other flips, and 

SafMB^^K then made a flip place on the eafl: fide of Slip Hill, while Mrs, 

mnd CoUingham picked feme partridge-berries. We brought home 

an old laige double-fpringed trap, which had been broken by a 

ftag feven years ago, and had lain there ever fincc. 

A fine day. 

Friday B3. The people were employed all day in gathering up the old 

"V* yfOQ^ which lay fcattered about the houie, and in piling it up 

for firewood. Mrs. CoUingham was at work on my curtains, 

and I employed myfelf in making three flips of ten parts of 

' twine each. 

Cloudy, rough weather. 

Saturd^ «4. I went out in the yawl with two hands to the flips, and 
^.Jnfi. tailed two more ; one in the cat-path near Martin's houfe, and 
the other on the eafl fide of Slip Hill. I killed an eider-duck, 
and winged a lady, but did not get her. 
A cloudy day and clear evening. 

Sundi? «5. M"^' CoiUngham and I went in the yawl with two hands, to 

s. w. fTijh; bring home the canoe, but could not find it : we rowed into 

a fmall harbour, fit only for fltiffs, near the eaft point of Venifon 

s. s. w. Ifcad, from whence Qie walked to Berry Hill, and I met her 

wkh the boat at the foot of it. We gathered about a gallon of 

partridge-berries, and I fliot an eider-duck and a guU. 

Clear till two o'clock, at which time it grew hazy; in the even- 

s. e. jhimg. ing we had a little rain, and it rained hard all night. 

Monday sG. Mrs. ColUngham was at work on my curtains, and I made 
four flips. Crane vifited the trap and flips, but nothing had 
iu»d. been near them. 
MfvuUh "" >^*"^*^ \accd all the foreno(»i ; the reft of the day was foggy. 

Crane 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 79 

Crane tailed five traps £c>r:i»arteo9*-in the pith near Martin's < — -^ — ^ 

houfe, and two flips near the old deer-pound. I fliot an eidet> Scikbii^. 

duck, and brought to part of the deer-net ; Alexander l>egan '^'^^y ''• 
another. h. j*. w. 

A cloudy day, with a few fmall {bowers of rain. . * 

I fent Crane and Alexander in the y^wl, to bring home the car WeJnef. aS. 
noe, but as they were returning, it blew io frefli, that they were 



obliged to put into Indian Harbour, where they left both the 
yawl and canoe, and walked hom^. I brought to the remainder 
of the deer-net, and fhot an eider-duck. At five in the even- 
ing, Mr. Collingham returned in our boat, and another of Noble 
and Pinfon's came along with him, with four hands to winter 
at Paradife. Thefc boats brought the remainder of my pro- 
-vifions, all the pine boards, and the goods from Indian iHand. 
Mr. Collingham informed me, that Mr. William Pinfon had 
reftored the goods which Dier robbed him of, and that he had 
fhipped them on freight in the Maiy, commanded by Mr. Pin- 
fon himfelf, and had con&gned them to our friend Benjamin 
Lefter, Efq. at Poole. He alfo faid, that he faw a brig and a 
{hallop among the Seal Ifiands, which belonged to an adventur- 
er from Qiiebec ; who was going in the. Ihallop to winter in 
Ivucktoke Bay, and intended leaving the brig with a crew of ^^ 
hands to winter where they were, and to filh for feals. 
A cloudy day. . 

We began at day-light to unload the boat : {he was afterwards Tlwdda)' 39. 
ballafted, and failed for Cartwright Harbour, for a load of fire- ^^^; 
wood. The c^her fhallop failed at the fame time for Paradife. 
In the afternoon, Mr. Collingham took Will with him and 
tailed nine traps for foxes, in the paths round Blackguard Bay ; 
which he obferved, had not been much ufed lately. 

Cloudy weather, with aTew fbowers of rsun. jt^pt. 

The 



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Oaober. 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

The dry-goods were turned out of the (lore-room, and both 
them and thole which Mr. CoUingham brought, were put to- 
gether out of doors, and covered with a tarpaulin. Mr. Col- 
lingham then took off the greateft part of the roof of the north- 
eaft end of the houle. In the evening obferving fome geefe on 
the call fide of Slink Point, I endeavoured to get a Ihot at them, 
but they went off before I could get to the place. On my 
return, I got fo bad a &11 on a flat rock, that I could not get 
up again for fbme time, when with great pain and difiiculty, 
I crawled to the next point, fat down there, and fired guns of 
diftrefs ; they foon brought Mr. CoUingham and one of the boys 
to my affiftance who carried me home in the punt. I was in 
very great pain all the reft of the day, having fallen on my 
rump, and hurt myfelf greatly. At nine in the evening the 
Fox returned. 

The Fox was brought to the wharf-head; unloaded, ballafted, 
and then moored off again : in doing which, they hauled up 
a fmall anchor which the Caplin baitlkiff parted from in a gale 
of wind on the fifteenth of September, 1778, and which I had 
tried for feveral times in vain. Mr. CoUingham pulled off the 
remainder of the roof of the fouth-eaft end of the houfe, but 
we found that the new couples would not fit. Tilfed began 
to make others. Crane went to the cat-path, and brought in 
a marten. A fine day, 

Smb) «. Mr. CoUingham and Tilfed worked all day on the new cou- 
A/^. plea; fome of which they fet up. Crane and Alexander 
brought home the yawl and canoe, and alfo viiited the large 
trap and the deer-flips: they found a five year old flag, in the 
one at the foot of Slip Hill ; but he had been dead ib long, 
that he was tainted. They returned with the punt and 
brought him home. My pains were fo bad to-day, that I 

put 



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Tuefifay4. 

mtdtraltt 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 81 

put a large warm .plafter on my loins, and another on my right f-"^ — t 
foot arid ancle. OEMcr. 

Clear, frofty weather. 

Wc fkinned the deer, which had twenty-four points on his 
horns : he cut an inch and a half of fat on his haunches, and his 
quarters weighed two hundred and five pounds. I fent Alex- 
ander and Jack to Great Ifland for the fox-traps, and had Home 
clay brought from Martin's Cove, to re-build the kitclwn chim- 
ney with ; having no Ume. Mr. CoUingham and Tilfed were 
at w(M*k on the roof of the houfe. 

Cloudy and cold wether. 

Mr. CoUingham and Tilled put on part of the new roof. 
Four hands getting clay. In the afternoon a fliallop worked 
into the harbour, and anchored oppofite to my cdd cod-ftage 
on Great llland. I fent a boat to her and found her to be that 
which Mt. CoUingham faw among the Seal Iflands. 

A dull day, it rained in the evening and moft part of the 
night. 

At nine this morning Mr. Pierre Marcoux of Quebec, who is 
the owner of the Ihallop which came in yefterday, and atfo of 
the fmall velfel at Seal Iflands, came to our houfe, and brought 
with him Mr. Jofeph Goupille, his boatfmaller; they fpent the 
day with us. Mr. CoUingham and Tilfed covered in the re- 
mainder of the houfe. 

Hard rain all day; thick fog at night 

Mr. Marcoux brought his fliallop up here, anchored her op- Tt»ura»y6. 
pofite to our houfe, and fpcnt the day with us. The kitchen *' 

chimney and fireplace were pulled down, and new ones were 
begun upon. Mr. CoUingham took one of the bovs with him 
Vol. Ill, M 'in 



Wediier.5. 

S.S. £. 

wudmUt 



N.W. 
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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

in the punt, and went round the upper part of this harbour; 
he put out eleven traps for foxes, and one for an otter; he alfo 
vifited ihe deertrap and Hips, and faw a good flag, but could 
not get a fhot at him. 
liiiit. A clear day, dull evening, and clear night, 

Tniaf 7. Mr. GiUingham went in the punt, with one of the boys» round 
"/MTtT' his traps in Blackguard Bay, and put out four more, but faw no 
fign of foxes, which is a very bad omen of a fuccefsful furring 
feafon. He afterwardi went up the cat-path, but got nothing j 
alfo tailed a flip in the path near the old deer-pound. Tilfed 
and Crane were at work on the kithen chimney. The Canadi- 
ans Ipent the day with us. 
Cloudy till noon, clear afterwards. 

Sibird^ 8. Tilfed and Crane were at work on the kitcTien chimney, 
^^f' and by night they had done fo much of it, that we had a fire 
in the ftove for the firft time, and not before it was wanted ; 
for I have been almoft flarved for fome days paft, the blood in 
my lower limbs circulating fo flowly, that I can fcarcely keep 
vital heat in them, as I cannot ufe any exercife. Mr. Marcoux 
failed this morning for Ivucktoke Bay. 

Very hazy till noon, and rain all the reft of the day; 
tbreatening bad weather. 

Sunday 9. A hcavy gale of wind came on lafl night, and continued all 
'i^f* *^* *^^y ' ^' froze iharply, and afterwards there- were fome 
fhowers of fnow. If Marcoux did not find a good harbour 
laft night, he will be in great danger of being loft. 
In the afternoon I read prayers to the family. 

Mooaiy 10. Tilfed was at work on the chimney, three hands were cutting- 
>«•<• grafs befoix dinner, and four were ^tting clay after. I fent 

^exander 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 83 

Alexander to look at the traps and flips in this harbour; he 1 — ;'^7~> 

brought a yellow-fox and the leg of a goofe ; a fox had eaten Ofiobtr. 

the reft i he faid, that another trap was carried away by a deer. ^^ 

Mr. Collingham put up the partition between the upper part "' '•■*"«■ 
of the kitchen and the llore-room, then went to look for the 
loft trap, which he found with a crofs-fox in it. 
A dull day, a flight frofl and fome fnow towards the evening. 

All the goods which were out of doors, and part of thofe ''"*^ *'• 
which were in the dining-room were flowed in the ftore-toom. i^ ' 
Nothing could be done at the chimney or out of doors, as it 
blew hard attended with fnow, fleet, and rain. 

Our doe rabbit died this morning, but her young ones are WedwC tn 
living, and old enough to do without her. Tilled was at work "'• 
on the chimney. Mr. Collingham flowed away the remainder "•*"'• 
of the goods which were in the dining-room, and alfo .fbme 
others in the ftore-room. Alexander vifited the traps and flips 
round this harbour; he brought in a marten and a brace of 
groufe i one of the traps was gone, nor could he find it. Three 
hands were gathering up fallen wood near the houfe for fewel. 

Cloudy, cold weather. 

Mr. Collingham covered part of the new roof with pitched Thmfih^ 13 
paper. Tilfed was at work half the day on the chimney, "*• 

A very fine day. mMkrmi 

Mr. CoUingham covered the remainder of the new 'roof, Friday 14. 
Tilfed finiflied the chimney, and three hands gathered fome *J-Jii,f' 
mofs. At noon, Mr. Marcoux returned. He got into the 
mouth of Ivucktoke Bay in the night of the eighth inftant, 
when his boat was very near foundering in the gale of wind 
which happened at that time. After dinner I went with him 
M 2 in 



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84 



Saturday 15. 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

in his canoe with two of his people, to look for geefe on Death- 
fall Ifland, but finding none, we vifited three of the flips at the 
head of the harbour, and found a (laggard faft by the horns in 
one of thofe two which were in the eaft corner ; we killed him 
and brought him honje in the canoe. He was broke up as 
foon as we returned, and his quartere weighed a hundred 
and fixty-eight pounds. A fine day. 

At ten this morning, a hind and calf were perceived to have 
juft taken the water, from this end of Slink Point, and to be 
fwimming acrofs the harbour (or the Point under Mount.Martin. 
I purfued them in the yawl with four hands, and fhot them both ; 
their quarters weighed two hundred and twelve pounds. I 
fent four hands a fifhing in the fealing-flciff, but thpy could 
catch only one rock-cod. They brought a load of firewood 
from the old flage. Some leaks being in the roof of the dining- 
room, Mr. Collingham covered them with pitched paper, and 
in the afternoon he vifited his traps in this harbour, but could 
not find the one which was miffing. At the foot of Slip Hill he 
found a flag of four years faft by the horns, which immediately 
giving a ftrong plunge, broke the flip, and taking the water, 
fwam for the Ifthmus ; but being headed there, he turned and 
landed on Deathfall Ifland ; from whence he fwam to Split 
Point, but Mr. Collingham giving him the meeting there alfc^ 
he took the water again, and made for Martin's Cove. Colling- 
ham kept oppoflte to him till he came to the eaft point of the 
Cove, and then hailed the houfe for a boat ; when I went oflf 
in the fealing fltiflf with five hands, threw the painter over his 
horns, and cut his throat. He weighed a hundred and feventy- 
one pounds. Three of the Canadians alio went off in bur 
yawl, and brought Mr. Collingham home, who was greatly 
iatigued with fb much running, 
A very fine day. 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 
It lained all Has day. 

I had the kitchen door Ihifted to the front of the houfc, and 
the window to the back of it, the empty ca{ks and other things 
brought up from the (bore fide, and the fods brought up to the 
houfe to be in readinefe to lay on the roof. Mr. CoUinghani 
looked for, and found his loft trap with the foot of a filver-fox 
in it. At eleven o'clock Mr. Marcoux failed for his feaUng-poft ' n,tf.e. 
where he intends to winter. We had the very great mortifi- **^' 
cation to find, that the dining-room leaked as bad as ever, and 
that the kitchen chimney fmoked mofl intolerably. 
. Qear till near noon, when a fc^ with fleet came on. 

This morning we perceived, that the punt had bn^ adrift TueOaj i8, 
from the ftem of the fliallop, and was driven on flrare on the *>"'•■ 
fouth-eaft iide of Martin's Cove. In the evenit^ we fent three 
hands to bring her home, but finding her flaved, they hauled 
her higher up. Tilfed and Crane began a new porch, and a 
room, for the fervants to ileep in, (Hi one Ude of it. The fods 
were put upon the new roof, but there not being enough of 
them, fbme more were cut. Mr. Collingham nailed ibme 
boards on each Iide of the fireplace, and a ftrip of canvafs 
acrofs the front of it, which cured it of fmoking.; and he 
frefh papered the leaks in the roof of the dining-room. I 
fcraped two fox-fltins, and fhot one of our dogs- for at- 
tempting to kill fome fowls which Mr. Marcoux gave Co Mrs*- 
CoUingham. 

Cloudy with fome fnow. 

Tilfed and crane were at work on the porch all day, and in. WedneCij. 
the evening they covered the remainder of the roof with fods. 
Mr, Collingham took op& hand with him» aQd.vifked his flip 

hyy 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 



"J ' by the old deer-pound, where he put out another. No fign of 
Oftober. martens, and very Httle of foxes. Two hands paring Ibds. 
Cloudy weather with gende froft. 



Tlmflay B*. 
tVad 

S.fyH'. 



fi'A 



Friday ai. 
IT. amftratt. 



Mrs. CoUingham and I went in the yawl with two hands up 
the harbour ; I tailed two frelh flips where the two deer had 
been caught. I alfo fliot an eider-duck and an ermine. Mr. 
Colhngham walked round the fliore, to vifit his traps, and re- 
turned with us : he had a yellow-fox in one of his traps, .and 
found an old hind in my large one ; (he had carried it into 
the Ibuthermnolt pond. He took up his ottertrap, the pond 
being frozen. In the morning we perceived a fmall fchooner 
working into the harbour, and on our return found her at an- 
chor, oppofite to our houfe. She belongs to fome merchants 
of Quebec, and is bound to Ivucktoke Bay to winter, in order 
to kill furs, and trade with the Indians there. But as neither 
the mailer, whofe name is Nicholas Gabourite, nor any of his 
people were acquainted with the place, and having had the 
misfortune to run on Ihore near Gready's fealing-tilt, on Mon- 
day laft, and damage the veflel, they were afraid to venture 
any farther : and therefore came in here to enquire for the 
neareft convenient place to winter at. Tilfed covered in part 
of the porch and fervants room, and Crane put up fome of the 
ftuds. The Canadians liad an old Mountaineer Indian man, 
his daughter, and four of her children with them. 

Cloudy weather. 

At day-light I fent four hands in the Ikiif for the deer ; flie 
weighed a hundred and forty-one pounds. At noon, Mrs. 
CoUingham, the Canadian captain, and I went in the yawl with 
four hands to Berry Hill, where we gathered three gallons of 
berries. Mr. CoUingham walked thither and tailed a flip at the 

foot 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 87 

foot of the weft end of it; he then croffed the land to Rocky '"^jj^ 
Cove, but faw nothing. Tilfed and Crane ftudded the remain- oaot*'- 
der of the porch and fervants room. 
A very fine, mild day. 

Mr. Collingham went in the yawl with two hands, to the Satai% se, 
head of the harbour, from whence he crofled to North Harbour, n, g. utiu. 
and tailed fix traps for foxes ; he alfo viHted the flips and deer- 
irap, made up another flip-place, and killed a brace of grey- 
plover. Tilfed, Crane, and three of the Canadians finiflied the 5* »*«*" 
roof and floor of the porch and fervants room. I waxed a new 
bed-tick and bolfter, and'fl^inned a fox. 

A cloudy, mild day. 

At day-light Tilfed failed in the Fox with three hands, for SuTAy =3. 
Caribou Caftle. to bring the remainder of the firewood. The *j^^f ' 
Canadian fchooner failed at the fame time for Muddy Bay, 
where we had recommended them ta winter; I made three 
deer-flips. Mr. Collingham fixed the plate-rack in the kitchen, 
fliifted moft of the goods which were over his room into the ** ^'^' 
ftore-room ; ilowed the cordage, and feveral other things 
which were out of doors, in the fervants room. 

Cloudy, mild weather. 

Mr* Collingham took William with him, and vifited the flips Monday ^4. 
and traps in this Harbour ; he had a porcupine in one of the '/njh, ' 
latter, and tailed four more flips on the eaft epd of the Iflh mus. 
I made another flip, alfo put the new dining-table together. 

Foggy, moifli weather. 

The loaf fugar, the guns, and feveral other things which TugUi^ 
were over the couples in the dining-room, were fliowed in the ,^f,'^ 
fioce-room, in doing which, a board fell upon one of the young 

rabbits,. 



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88 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 



""Hg""^ rabbits and killed it. William was at wwk on a deer-net. 
olJ^. Rain and fog. 



Wednef. «6. Ml. CoUingham put eighty-fix pounds of feathers into my 
WindaUm, jjew bed-tick, then vifited the cat-traps, and his two flips in the 
5Jt w. ibuth-wefl marihes, but got nothing. 

Clear till three o'clock, very foggy afterwards. 



ThuHilay 27. 
W. S. W. 
modtraU, 



Friday b8. 
mtdtraie. 



Mr. Collingham vifited his traps and flip by Blackguard Bay, 
and gathered a gallon of berries. William went round the 
traps and flips by this, and North Harbour, but neither of them 
got any thing. At three o'clock the Fox returned, and was 
partly unloaded by night. Tilfed informed me, that the Ca- 
nadians liked Muddy Bay very well, and would winter there. 

A fine day. 

I had a tarpaulin fpread ovei* the roof of the fouth-weft end 
of the houfe, as it ftill leaked. As foon as the Fox had delivered, 
I fent her to Great Ifland for another load. William trod up- 
on a nail, which ran into his foot and lamed him. Mr. CoUing- 
bam repaired the punt. 

Clcmdy, mild weather. 



Saturday 19. Mt. Collingham was at work mofl: of the day in making a 
w. mdtrau. (^j^jjd for a chamber roafting-jack. At night the Fox return- 
ed with a full lading. 
Cloudy, mild weather. 

Susixf 30. A very fine day. 



Moitday JI. 



At day-light the people began to unload the Fox ; as foon 
as they had done that, they covered the roof of their room 
with fods ; and at three in the afternoon, they took the boat 

back 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 89 

bade to die ifland for another load of wood. Mr. Cdlingham f— j^J — 1 
vilited his traps and the flips by this and North Harbourt he 
had a young flag in one of his flips by the latter, alfo fliot two 
fiiellbirds. 
A clear morning, hazy day, and foggy evening. 

November, 

At eight this morning, the Fox returned without any wood, TueWay 1. 
as it blew too frefli to get any oS. 1 fet fome of the people to s. E.jrt/i. 
work on their own apartment, and fent the reft for the. deer, 
which proved a three years bead, in good condition, and weigh- ir./r^. 
ed a hundred and twenty-feven pounds. I made two flips. 

Rained till noon, clear afterwards ; mild weather. 

The people were at work on their apartment, and in fcalding weAur. >. 

the deer's. feet. Mr. Collingham hnilhed the jack-Hand. I M.s.iari, 

made two flips. jy. 4.,^ 

Rain and fog all day. 

Tilfed and Crane began a flied, before the fervants room and TWfliyj. 
porch, to break of the wind, and to flow the empty caflts in. '••'^• 
Mr. Collingham vifited his traps and deer-flip by Blackguard "«''• 
Bay ; no foxes in that walk. He brought home a few berries. 
One hand netting. I difmiflcd Thomas from being cook, be- 
caufe he was lazy and good for nothing, and appointed Jack 
in his room. Cloudy mild weather. 

Tilfed was cutting and ftraightening wire for a deer pound, Frij.74, 
Crane worked on the flied, and two boys were making a deer- *■ i"* 
net, which they finiflied. In the afternoon three beautiful fal- 
cons attempted to kill the fowls at the door j two of which I 
fliot. At night I put a large blifter on the under part of my 
left thigh. 

Stormy weather with continual rain. 
Vol.. III. N Mr. 



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J>-f- 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

Mr. CdUiligliJm took. t#o of the boys wiih hiiil in tbe pmt, 
imd vifittd tbe traps alxlflipj hj this harbour, and thelfthmus; 
alio put out five more of the latter. He faw a flag, but oould' 
not get a Ibot at him. Tilfed fet up a fmall work-bench in 
the kitchen, aiid fixed the large vice on it, then finilhed the 
fides of the ffied. Tom was pointing the wires for the deer- 
pound. I brought to the deer-net, which tneafures fixty-four 
yards and a-fijot. 

Cloudy, mild Weather ; it froze moderately in the evening. 



Sunday 6. 



Mondijr 7. 



I put another large Uifter on my left hip. 
This was on exceedingly fine day. 

All handi were at work on a new feal-net, from three this 
morning till day-hght, when Tilfed with four of them, went in 
the fox to Great llland for more wood, and returned at fix in 
the evening with the boat nearly loaded. Mr. CoUingham vi- 
fited the c'at-path, and his Hips in the fouth-well raarlhes, then 
walked up the fide of the brook to the firft pond, in which he 
fbiind two old beaver-houfes and a good deer-path on each 
fid* of it. By the fide of the brook he found fome good timber 
trees. He had a pair of martens, and Ihot three fpruce-game. 

Frore fharply all day j dear till two in the afternoon, cloudy 
afterwards. 



TntHayS. 
W.N.W. 



The people were netting from four this morning till day-light, 
when they brought the Ihallop to the wharf head, and unloaded 
her : they then felled a large tree which grew near the houfe, 
and was very likely to fidl upon it ; afterwards they calked 
the fealing-lkiff, and piled the firewood, which lay at the back, 
of the houfe. Mr. CoUingham viCted the traps and flips by 
this and North Harbour : he had a hind fiift by a hind leg in 
the one which I tailed on the twentieth ultimo, where I caught 

the 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 91 

tlie flag on the foiurteenth, and faw a young ftag at the fame c ^ J 1 
place: be followed him almoft to Mount Martin, and fired twice, NovtmUr. 
but milled both times. The people were netting again from 
dark till ten o'clock. Some (hort fqualls of fnow fell in the 
morning, but the reft of the day was cloudy with froft. 

The people were netting from half pall four tiU eight o'clock Wainr. 9, 
this morning ; when Tilfed and four of them went in the Fox, "''"l^**' 
to the fouth-eall fide of the harbour, and gathered up near a 
boat load of driftwood, which they returned with before feven 
in the evening. Mr. and Mrs. CoUingham and one of the boys 
accompanied me in the yawl for the deer, the quarters of which 
weighed a hundred and twenty-fix pounds ; ihe had but one 
horn, and I believe, never had another. We alfo walked upon 
Slip Hill, where we law a large pack of groufe, and 1 killed a 
brace of them. 

Mild, cloudy weather ; rain at night. 

The people were netting from fix this morning till day-light, iwflv 10. 
then they brought the Fox to the wharf head, and unloaded her j *^t 
after which, fome of them began a new well, others piled up 
the wood, and the reft fpread a tarpaulin over the fouth-weft 
end oftheroof of thehoule, and battened it down for the win- 
ter; being the only means of curing the leaks : at night they 
netted again. 

Fog, IJnall rain, and lilyer thaw all day. 

The people having finilhed the feal-net, began another this pridqr n. 
morning, and worked on it till noon; Crane then vifited the "■^■'•^ 
«at-patb,.but got nothing. Tilled began the hawk-dpors for 
the deerrpound, two, boys fawed fome ftove .wood, and the 
other ftowed the empty calks and loofe Haves in the Ihed. 
N 2 Some 



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92 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 



* — jt^T^ Some fmall fnow with fog till noon, clear from thence tHl 
November, t^c cvcning, whcn it grew foggy again. 

Sjiunhy la. j^j.^ CoUingham, taking William with him in the punt, vilited 
K. w. fy N. the traps and flips by this and North Harbour, but got nothing; 
■^"^ they left the punt on the Iflhmus, and walked home. Tilfed 
fini(hed the hawks- of the deer-pound, then covered the {hed 
with loofe boards. Three hands working on the new weH. 
Great plenty of ducks flew to the fouthward to-day. It froze 
ib-lharply lait night, that the ice bore for the firlt time. 

Cloudy till two in the afternoon, when it b^an to fnow : 
fharp fro& all day. 



Sunday 13. 
moitrtUtt 



At noon Mr. and Mrs. Collingham and I went in the yawl 
with four bands up j[buth>-eaft arm, where we landed ; when 
all the men took fhort walks, in hopes of meeting with either 
deer or berries, biit could find neither. I killed a bull, and 
Mr. Collingham and I crippled five ducks, but got none of 
them ; but few pafled to-day. 

Qear weather with Iharp froft till five in the evening, when 
it grew cloudy.. 



Monday i.| 
E. N. E. 
kuvj. 



Jrng' 



The people were netting from fix till ten this morning, when 
they finiflied the fecond net, and afterwards worked for them* 
felves, on their bulkins and cuffs. At high water tiss morning 
the inner beams of the wharf were carried away by the fea, 
and at five in the evening the reft went alfo ; but the yawl's 
mooring being made faft to the htad, brought it up, and at 
eight o'clock we launched the yawl, and hauled it on (horc. 

' Very heavy gales with thick, drifting fnow till four in the 
afiemoon, when the fky deared, and the gale abated. 

The 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 



93 



The people unbent the fails, ftruck the mafts and unrigged < — J; — • 
the Fox. ■ They then cleared away fuch rocks as were on the N<wnb«. 
place where we intend laying her on Ihore for the winter : ^"5^''' 
after which Mr. Collingham went in the yawl with five hands, ,*""*- 
and brought the blocks, and two fpare mafts from the place 
where (he lay in the winter of 1778 ; and at night laid her on 
Oiore : but the tide did not make high enough to get her upon 
the proper place. He landed William and Alexander on the 
lllhmus to vifit the Hips, and return in the punt, which they did 
atdark; theyreported, thatafmallherdofdeerwentup to the ,„i„m. 
one, on Slip Hill, and refufing it, proceeded towards the 
other two in the corner ; biit as the boys did not go to thofe, I 
fent them back after fupper, and they returned before ten 
o'clock, without feeing any figns of the deer there. 

A clear Iky till two in the afternoon, and cloudy afterward?. 
It froze Iharply in the morning, but grew mild as the day ad-> 
vanced. 



The people got the Fox a little nearer in this moming> tide, 
but it did not make fo high as it ought to have done. Tilfed 
fattened the roof of the Ihed, andlaid more boards on it. Mr. 
Collingham took Crane and Alexander with him, and went up 
another deathfall-path, where he tailed-eigbt traps, and, leaving 
them to build cat-houfes over them, vifited the two flips by 
the old deer-pound'; in onex)f which he found'a ilag of three, 
years, faft by both horns, which he paunched and left: in 
croffing- to-Table Bay, he met with another very good deer- 
path. I fent William to the traps and flip by Blackguard Bay, 
but he got nothing. I cut up the venifon into proper pieces, 
and flowed them in a calk with fnow. 

A dear flcy till the afternoon, when it grew cloudy ; frofty 
weather.' 



W, littk. 



KIT,- 



Early 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

Early in the morning I fent four hands for the deer, and they 
returned with him before breakfall ; he weigheda hundred and 
thirty-feven pounds. In the afternoon I fent WiUiam and 
Alexander in the punt to Slip Hill, to wait for Mr. Collingham, 
who was gone on foot to vifit the traps and flips, by this and 
North Harbour; he did not return till night, at which time he 
brought home the heart of a hind that had been £>ft by a leg 
in one of his /lips on the Illhmus, and was one of three, that 
were in company with the flag which was caught yellerday. 
William and Alexander were not fullered to have any fupper, 
bccaufe they did not go to Mr. Collingham when he made 
fignals for them, but returned home without him. Tilfed fet up 
a carpenter's bench in the flied, he afterwards, with the affillance 
of Crane, cleared out the ice and dirt which were in the fliallop. 

A -very fine, mild day. 

rriJi)' iij At feven this morning, I fent William and Alexander in the 

"** punt for the deer; they returned with her after twelve o'clock: 

Ihe was an aged beall and not large, but being dry, was fat ; 

the weighed a hundred and thirty-two pounds. In the after- 

s. an,. noon, Mr. Collingham and five hands blocked up the Fox for 

the winter. 

Dull weather and very mild, threatening rain. 

Suirdijr 19, Tilfed repaired fome killicks, and made pryor-poles. I fent 
a^w. three hands to pile up the timber of Martin's old houfe. Mr. 
Collingham made a frame for the porch window, and hung all 
the venifon of the laft two deer within the pile of plank, to pre- 
ferve it from rain, and to prevent the dogs from eating it ; as it 
will keep better there, than flowed in Ihow, fo long as the mild 
weather lafts. 

It began to rain lalt night at twelve o'clock, which continued 
without intermillion till nine this morning, and we had fome few 

Ihowets 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 95 

Ihowers after ; but at three in the afcernooD, the fltjr gtevrtoleia- ■ J^ ' > 
biy clear. The rain has carried off a great deal of the fiiow; KmiSa, 
I wilh it would all go, as the latter herds of deer kept the 
paths but little. Another fall would completely put an end 
to our flip work. 

Mr. and Mrs. Collingham, and I went in the yawl, with two SmAy «. 
boys, to Slip Hill, from whence Mr. Collingham and the boys irs."«r. 
walked round the flips, but faw no fign of deer ; I Ihot a raven. 

A hazy Iky with gentle froft. 



mKltrtUt 



Mr. Collingham and five hands went this morning to fet up niaAr n; 
the deer-pound, and fixed one pair of hawk-doors, and fome of ^,^' 
the lines. Mrs. Collingham accompanied me to the top of the 
hill above the houfe, and we faw four bedlamers in White Cove. 
1 {hot at one of them, and Ihould have killed it, had my ihot 
been larger. 

A clear and very fine day, with moderate froft. 

On the appearance of the bedlamers yefterday, we determined tatO^ m; 
to get our leal-nets into-the water with all expedition; and as that ^. £• ^'^ 
will prevent our attending to the deer, Mr. Collingham went 
this morning with two boys, and brought home the nets and 
lines. 1 fent William to vifit the flips on the lilhmus, but he found : 
nothing in them. Tilfed and Crane were making kilhcks. 

Small drifting fnow with moderate frofl-all day. 

Mr. Collingham and two hands brought to partof thelongeft Wednefi bj^. 
feal-net. The yawl and punt were frefli payed, and the former "• ''^• 
was carried round to the other fide of the firll break in Slink 
Point, and there hauled up. I took a walk acrofs the neck to- ^^ 
took for feab in White Cove, but faw none. 

A dull, frofty day, and fnow in the evening, 

Mti. 



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gS THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

r- "'^ — > Mr. Collingham and two hands brought to the remainder of 
Novcnbtf. the long, and part of the ihort feal-net. Three hands were 

^^:t feUing firewood. 

If. lUirtu. It rained hard moft part of laft night; there was a thick fog 
till ten this morning, and the reft of the day was cloudy, but 
the fun appeared in the evening ; the weather was remarkably 
mild. 

jniaj >5. Mr. CoUiugham and two hands^finiihed the Ihortefl feal-net, 

^J^/ and the people then carried them both, as alfo the kiUicks, «&c, 

to the yawl; but the wind being too high to put them out, they 

^■^' left them there, and two hands began to mend the old net with 

,„f„^, falmon-twine. Three hands were felling firewood moll part' 

of the day. 

It blew very hard -all lafl riight, but the gale abated as the 
day came on, and decreafed gradually until it became quite 
moderate. Thin fnbw with gentle froft all day. 

S«iiTd*7 36. Tilfed and three hands went out this morning at day-light, 

'"^ and put out the two new feal-nets ; during which time, they . 

t.mdtntt> faw one winter-feal. Mr. Collingham went to the traps and 

fi^ , flips by this, and North Harbour; he faw the flot of two 

deer, which had gone to the eaftward, but got nothing. I fent 

Crane to the cat-paths and flips in the marlhes : in Narrow 

Marlh feeing a brace of deer coming towards him he flipped 

a ball upon his Qiot, but when they came clofe up to him, he 

was afraid to fire: he brought in two martens. I fent William 

to the traps and flip by Blackguard Bay; he found a hind in 

the latter, paunched her, and brought home the heart. Tilfed 

was mending the old feal-net. 

Foggy, with a little fnow till nine o'clock, and very dull from 
that time till two in the afternoon, when it Ciowed for the re- 
mainder of the day, and all night. It began moderately at firft, 
bat increafed much, and drifted confiderably. Gentle froft. 

There 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. * 97 

There was fo much fea in Blackguard Bay to-day, that the ■' tj • 

nets could not be looked at. s'tS ' 

Ooudy.mild weather, with a few Qiowers of thin bow. "iriL 

' K. £. mil. 

At day-light, Tilfed and three hands hauled one of the nets, Moi>i>)> i8. 
but both the pryor-pole and bobber of the other being carried "frjtf" 
away, they could not find it : after which, Tilfed finiOied the 
old one, and in the evening put it out alio. After breakfaft Mr. 
CoUingham went in the yawl with four hands, acrols Blackguard 
Bay, and brought home the deer, which proved an old, wet 
hind, whofe quarters weighed a hundred and forty pounds. 

Weather cloudy and mild. 

At day-light they hauled two of the nets, and found the TueOiy 19; 
other, by dragging for it with an old trap; they fixed an- "'^ 
other pryor-pole and bobber to it, but had nothing in any 
of them. I walked to the fecond break in Slink Point, and 
Ihot a brace of ptarmigans. I then gave my gun to Tilfed, 
who was returning from the nets, and he killed another brace, 
and two brace of groufe ; alfo a pair of king-ducks. Mr. 
Collingham took Tom with him, and vifited the traps, and 
flips in the Ibuth-eaft walk; (this harbour and North Harbour.) 
On Spit Point he met with nine deer, and wounded an old ilag; 
in following them over the flioal ponds, he faw a bitch white- 
bear and her cub, on Shp Hill ; on going after them he 
fotind, that they had killed a lazarus, had carried it to the foot 
of the hill, and had eaten part of the ht. Not being able to get 
ii;;ht of them again, he turned after the deer, which made 
touards the peninfula, and upon the Illhmus met with their 
roturning Hot, and law a calf upciWit', flowly following the 
rcit of tlie herd: he Hred twice at it, broke one of its hind 
legs at the Sril Ihot, and killed it at the fecond. Judging that 
the dam had got into one of the flips, he traced the flot back- 
Vdi.. 111. O wards, 



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S|B THE SiXtfl K^OYAGK: 

( — J — I wards^ and Ibon foun(!l her faft by the neck, and juft expiring. 
November. Somc of the reft had pafTed clofe by two other Hips, but there 
being fomc fnow on the groutid, they did not regard the 
paths much. He followed the wounded ftag, till they all turned 
up Table Hill; and then obrerving that hq did not quit the herd, 
and had ceafed bleeding, he vifited the other flips, and fent 
Tom home for a boat. He arrived juft as the reft of us re- 
turned, when I fent a boat with four hands, and two guns ; pne 
of wWch Mr. Collingham tailed on the hill for the bears, and 
returned home at feven in the evening with the calf and the 
feal; having paunched the hind and left her with a fox-trap 
tailed by her. Moft part of this harbour is covered with thin 
ice. 

A clear flty till noon, dull afterwards. Then g"" A. M. 14* 
— 7»' P. M. 26°. 



Wednef. 30. 

Wind 
N.E.iy E. 



DeceiDberi 
ITiorHay I. 
KfT iyW. 



Tilfed was fquaring boards to double the floors of the dining 
and bed-rooms, and Mr. Collingham was jointing them. Crane 
was making rackets, and the boys were cutting up firewood. 
The deer-calf was Ocinned and broke up; it weighed feventy- 
eight pounds and an half 

It Gaowed and drifted moft merrily all day, and by the fam- 
plc which we have already got, I expe£i that we ftiall be treated 
widi a much greater ^owance of fnow this winter, than any of 
us ever yet faw. 

The people hauled the old net this morning, and had a bed> 
lamer; but there was fo much wind and fea, that they could 
not row through the tickle to the new ones; Tilfed fliot a pair 
of eider-ducks. I walked acrofs the neck to White Cove, and 
law the tracks of the two white-bears which Mr. Collingham 
had feen on Tuefday. They paffed that place on Monday, and 
went over a rock, on which I had juft before been fitting for 

Jbme 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

fome time. I had the &t of the lazurus melted out, and it pro- 
duced four gallons of oil. After breakfaft Mr. Collingham went 
in the yawl with four hands, to the head of the harbour, and 
brought home the hind, which being old and very fat, weighed 
a hundred and jBfty-four pounds. The bitch-bear had got into 
one of the flips which were in the eaft corner of the head of the 
harbour and broken it. He faw the freflj flot of three deer as 
he returned, and brought home the gun. I had all thevenifon 
cut into fmall pieces, and flowed in calks with Ihow. We have 
cow near lix hundred weight left, although all hands have lived 
<m it entirely for a month. We gave our vifitors nothing elfe, 
and Mr. and Mrs. Collingham and I have tafied no other meat 
fince the fourteenth of Oftober, except one day, when he had 
the hind quarters of a porcupine raafted ; for my part, I wi(h 
for nothing elfe for the remainder of the winter. 

A clear, and fine day out of the wind, but fharp in it, ^ it 
froze fmartly. To-day I fixed my thermometer within the door 
of the (bed for- the winter, and at eight o'clock this morning 
the mercury flood at 15". 

The people hauled the nets this morning, and had a bedluner: ^"^ '* 
the inner mooring of the old net being parted, they brought ^•^•J^' 
it home, fixed another mooring and killick, and then put it out 
again. As foon as the yawl returned, I lent four hands in her 
to the head of the harbour, to look at the flips there, and wait 
for Mr. Collingham, who was gone to vifit thofe in the fouth- 
weft walk, and intended going from thence to Slip Hill. He 
had a marten, and found the flip in the fertheft marlh hauled 
out by a deer. 

The early part of the morning was dull, fome fmall fiiow fell 
from ten to twelve o'clock, after which the flty cleared. Hicr. 

O2 ' The 



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.78j. 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

The people hauled the old net this morning, but could not 
get at the new ones for lolly ; no Ihoals of feals are to be feen 
^"^ '■ yet, which makes me believe, that they have either paded this 
"■« IT. place already, or elfe have ftruck in with the land, to the fouth- 
ward of US! for it is my opinion, that the greatell part of them 
come from Greenland. After breakfeft I fent William to vifit 
the traps and flip in the well walk (round Blackguard Bay) and 
he brought in a yellow-fox. Crane cleared the eaftem deathfall- 
path ; as he returned, he met four deer by Martin's lioule, and 
drove them this way, as &r as the ihallop, where I believe they 
took the water. Theupperpartoftbeharbour,half-way tothis 
houfe, is now either faft with ice, or jammed with lolly. 

A dear morning, but dull afterwards, with fome fmall fnow 
in the evening ; a fliarp froft all day. Ther. 8' 3° below a. 
—&>' P. M. 15°. 

Sundiy 1. A very heav y gale of wind came on this morning before day- 
j^^ . light, which caufed an extraordinary high tide. At nine o'clock 
the fliallop was fafe on her blocks ; but on looking out of the 
window at eleven, I faw her driven over to the ibuth fide of 
the harbour, and jammed in the lolly ; by the buoyancy of her 
it appears, that the fcuttle-hole, which was cut in her bottom, 
is plugged up with ice. In the afternoon 1 had the yawl brought 
home from Slink Point ; and anchors, buoy-ropes and pryor- 
poles were prepared to fecure the fliallop with, as foon as the 
weather will permit 

It ihowed fall in the morning, cleared afterwards, and drifted 
^day.. Ther. c/' 26'—^ 20°— 8' 16°. 

B01A75. We had aTvatch kept lall night for fear the Fox fliould make 

xi^ her efcape out of the harbour ; and this morning, it being calm, 

we fent five hands off in the yawl with twoanchors ; but the 

harbour being full of lolly, they returned again without being^ 

able 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

able to board her. Mr. Collingham then went 6S with them, 
and with infinite difficulty got on board, and let goboth anchors, 
which brought her up ; otherwife (he would moll certainly have 
been carried out to lea, for Ihe had been driven above half-way 
from the place where (he was lad night. By noon, all the mid- 
dle part of the harbour was clear of ice. Blackguard Bay and 
the ofEng are fo thickly covered with loUy, that there is no 
chance of feals. After Mr. Cbltingham's return from the Ihallop, 
he went upon Slink Point and killed five groufe, I walked 
over to White Cove, where I got a {hot at fome eider-ducks; 
killed three, and wounded four others. Tilfed crofled the 
head of White Cove, and there faw the flot of three deer, 
which had come from the wellward, and were gone up the 
pond. 
A dull day: Ther. 8'' i8° — i* 17° — 8' 20». . 

The lolly being driven offfram this Ihore, we fent five hands Tuc% 6. 
as foon as it, was light to tow the Fox into Martin's Cove, which "• ""• 
they did with fome difficulty ; as freih lolly made faft, and a 
great deal was driven into the harbour through Wellern Tickle. 
1 walked to the top of the hill over White Cove Pond, and found 
myfelf fo much recovered .from my pains, as to be able to go 
that diftance, which .is.near a quarter of a mile, without fitting 
down by the way. I. fat watching there for about an hour, 
when.the fliarpnefs of the froft and continual fmall fi.ow, drove 
me home agaim Mr.. Collingham, after mooring the fhallop, 
walked to the head of Martin's Cove, and built a bear-houfe to . 
tail a gun in. 

The morning broke clear, but the (ky foon after overcaft, . 
and at ten came on fmall fnow, which continued all day. 
Ther. 8' 17«— a^ is'^-8'' 11°.. 

: The^ 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

The whole harbour was &fl this morning, and fo much lolLy 
lay on this fide of Blackguard Bay. that there was no getting at 
the nets. Mr. CoUingham took Alexander with him round the 
weft walk, and frelh tailed all the traps there, and baited them 
for the firll time. A while-bear had eaten the deer's paunch 
that was left near the flip, and had Ilruck up both the traps 
which were tailed by it. He (hot one of my crippled ducks. I 
fent William round the fouth-eall walk; he found a good hind 
in the flip which is in the eafl comer, and on his return faw 
eight deer near Spit Point. I walked to the top of the hill over 
White Cove Pond, and got fo bad a fall, that I fprained my 
right ancle, and was very near diflocating both that and my 
knee. Tilled was edging boards, and Crane making rackets. 

A clear day, with fliarp frdft. Ther. S' 8° — lo'" 1° — 8' 2°. 

TbiiJdiyS. This moming the ice in the harbour being Arm, as far down 
as Weftem Tickle, we fent four hands with a fled for the deer. 
As the people were going, about twenty deer croflcd the ice 
from the South Barrens to the comer where the dead one lay, 
and on feeing her, they turned through the place where the 
bear broke the flip; and no other being yet uiled there, they 
got fafe off. Soon after, I faw a hind and calf crofs the har- 
bour to the eaflward, behind the people. Another deer came 
out of the woods on this fide of the firft flip in Martin's Cove, 
walked out upon our wharf-head (where 1 could have killed 
it out of the window, had I feen itj and from thence went upon 
Slink Point. As foon as the flot was obferved, I fent Tilfed 
after it, but he was too late; for he perceived that after going 
to the extremity of the point and finding the ice in the Tickle 
loofe, it had returned to this end and then crofled the harbour 
for Mount Martin. Mr. Collingham tailed a gun for a bear in 
the houfe which he built on Tuefday, and then vifited the 

fouth- 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 



103 



foutfa-weft walk : he had an ermine; alfo obfcrved, that great '"~^-~» 

numbers of deer had been feediag this morning in thofe marfhes. Dccmber. 

Foxes are fb remarkably fcarce, that the tracks of them are 

rarely to be feeh ; Mr. Collingham faw only one track to-day. 

The deer was flripped and broke up; it weighed a hundred 

and nineteen pounds. Although I laad ihewn William how to 

paunch a deer, and given him flritt charge to do it neatly, yet 

he was fo wilfully negligent on the twenty-fixth of November, 

as to cut the paunch open, and leave half the contents of it in 

the body of the deer, which made it fmell moH intolerably ; 

but, as I would not fufier him to taile a morfel of other food 

until he had eaten the whole of the humbles, (which I made hiar 

mince without walhing and tliey lalled him a week) he took. 

care to paunch this deer properly. My ancle was much better 

to-day than I expe3:ed it could have been. 

A clear and very Iharp day. Then 8'' 8" below o. — ^3* 4° 
below o. — S"* 6" below o. 

At day-light I fent Tilfcd with his gun to Mount Martin ; Fridjyj. 
he faw fourteen deer, fired a long (hot at them but miffed; he i^'n^it. 
killed a brace of ptarmigans. Mr. Collingham went into the '^""'^ 
fouth-weft marlhes; from thence along the deer-paths abreallof 
Hare Harbour; then home by Venifon Head, and viiited his 
traps; one of which had a raven in it: he faw very little fignof 
any thing. Three hands were felling firewood. Alexander 
(hot a groufe near the houfe. 

A clear morning, mid dull afternoon ; fmart froft. Ther. S*" 
7° below o. — 3'' o" — S** 2". 

Tilfed was making a new fled. Four hands were hauling Satur^i}' 10. 
home fome of the firewood which they had lately cut. Ob- *■ '*'-^"^s-^ 
ferving that William and Alexander {lill perfilled in their old 
tricks of being as idle as polfible, I requeued Mr. CoUingham 



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104 THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

* j^^ ' to give each of them a fevcre beatiDg with a rope's end, which 
Decent, he executed in a mafterly manner. Sorry am I to obferve, 
that all the four convicts are fo intolerably idle, that nothing 
but feverity, can induce them to do their work as they ought. 
Gende means have hitherto been ufed in vain ; and now we 
are determined to try the effect of ftriS; difciplin^ Not having 
been converfant with people of their defcription, I did not 
refleft, thtU idlenefe was the root from whence their villainies 
fprung ; and that of courfe, feverity only could extirpate it. 
Alexander and Jack are fuch old offenders, and fo thoroughly 
abandoned in their principles, that I am fully of opinion, they 
will both be hanged, if they Uve to return to England ; and I 
think it not improbable, that we fhall Ibme day -or other be 
obliged to (hoot them in our own defence : for they have more 
than once threatened the lives of our other fervants, and may 
probably hereafter attempt to deflroy their maflers. Mr. Col- 
lingham (hot a brace of groufe on the hill above the houfe. 

A dear, fevere day, with drift on the barrens, Ther. S^ 7* 
—2" 8°— 8" 4*. 

SBftjiyii. In the forenoon fix deer appeared on the ice, between the 
<^ two iflands, going from Shoal Cove towards Mount Marten ; 
but when they came to the track which the fled had lately made, 
they flopped for fome time and then turned upon the lilhmus, 
where they fed awhile. Mr. Collingham went after them, and 
ob&rved, that they had joined about forty more there, and had 
gone from thence towards Cape North ; he followed for fcveral 
miles, but faw no more of them. At two o'clock, eight others 
palled along the fame route to the eaft fhore, and took the bar- 
rens near the Hip-places in the corner ; immediately after, fix 
more came off from that (bore, and walked downwards until 
etuc. they came to Mr. Collingham's mick, when they turned back, 
andcro0ed the harbour to the fouthward. 

AduU 



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Jos 



Monday i9. 
Wind 

N. iy If. 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 
A dull day, and milder than for Tome days p^. Ther. 8' 

g'—gh 20°— 8' 18°. 

This morning the people went in the yawl to try if tliey 
could get at die nets, but the lolly was too thick on that fliore. 
After breakfaft I fent William to the traps and flips in the fouth- 
eall walk ; he found a calf in one of the latter, and brought 
home four others. Mr. Collingham calked part of the floor in 
my bed-room, and afterwards alElled in chincing both that and 
the dining-room. Tilfed was edging and planing boards for 
Jlie dining-room floor. Alexander and Thomas were bringing 
home firewood. I took a walk upon the neck and fat there 
about half an hour. 

A dull, mild day. Tbet. S'' 22« — 3' 22° — 8» 28". 

At day-light this morning, "William and Alexander went for Thutflay ig. 
the deer ; it proved a female of laft year, and weighed feventy- "J^i,^' 
three pounds. Crane and Tom were felling firewood all day, 
and the other two did the lame after they returned. Mr. Col- 
lingham calked part of the dining-room floor. Tilfed was 
planing boards. I went upon the neck and fat there about an 
hour, but faw nothing. 

A cloudy mild day. Ther. & 28" — ^ 23* — V' 22*. 

Mr. Cdlingham and Tilled calked as much of the floors as Wednff. 14. 
they could get at, and knocked down the partition between the ^i^' 
dining- room and bed-rooms, in order to 5nilh the calking, and 
lay the coveting boards j the reft of the people were picking 
oakum. I examined the liquor, and found one bottle of porter 
broken, and the corks of two bottles of claret fenced out by the 

It blew, fnowed and drifted very hard all day, with fmart 
froft. Ther. B* 17°— 3" i'—» 4°. 
Vol. IH. P Mr. 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

Mr. CoUingham laid part of the new covering on the dining- 
room floor, Tilfed planed more boards, three hands felled fire- 
wood all day, and William did the fame till breakfaA-time,whenr 
finding tfiat both his great toes were burnt by the froft, he fat 
with his feet in cold water the reft of the day, which took the 
frofli out completely. 

A dull day ; it drifted fmartly in the morning, and froze 
felverely throughout. Ther. S' 10° below o. — ^3' 6° below o. 
—8' 2°. 



Friday 16, 

W, N. W. 

tittle. 



Suit. 



Suirday 17. 
&.WiliUU. 



Sundty t8. 

K E. 
iMTdgaJa. 



At ten this morning I difcovered four deer npon the harbour, 
going to the eaftward ; but, on«>ming to the Ihore, they turned 
back and landed upon the South Barrens: Mr, Collingham pur- 
fued and found them feeding upon the Great Marlh, where be 
got within (hot, but they went o£F before he could make ready. 
William went to the fouth-eaft, and Alexander to the weft walk, 
but neither of them got any thing. Tilfed laid part of the 
dining-room floor. 

A dull morning, with a little fnow between ten and eleven; 
dear afterwards. Ther. 8' 18° — ^3'' 22 — ^8'' 24°. 

Mr. Collingham and Tilfed finilhed the floors of the dining- 
room and Uttle bed-noom. Four hands were felling firewood. 
I took a walk to the extremity of Slink Point, and faw the tracks 
of a brace of foxes. I then went upon the neck at the back of 
the houfe, where I met with fix groufe; three of which 1 killed, 
winged a fourthj and mortally wounded another. Alexander 
^et with four there, and killed three of them. 

A fine, clear day, and very mild for this time of the year. 
Ther. &<• 18'— 3' la"— 8' 14". 

Small fndw, much drift, and.moderate froft all day. Then 
S'' 2D°— s' iS"— a' 12'i. 

Betweea 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

Between eight and nine this morning a brace of deer were 
perceived croffing the harbour to the eallward ; and after break- 
faft Mr. Collingham followed them. From the top of Mount 
Martin he difcovered nine others, feeding, near Gready's Tilt; 
and in going towards them, be met with a hind and calf, near the 
brook of Southeaft Cove, which, feeing him, joined the herd; 
when they all went off upon the ice, and walked to the lower 
end of Curlew Harbour, where they lay down. He ftalked up 
within a hundred and feventy yards behind a large umbrella 
of white dimity ; at which they took fright, and ilarting up, 
ran nearly as much farther, and then flood to look at it: he at 
that lime made ready to fire, but his gun going off accidentally, 
blew a hole through the umbrella. Tilfcd was planing boards, 
and the reft of the people were fawing and cleaving firewood. 
The ice in the outer part of Blackguard Bay drove out to-day, 
and if the wind holds, I am in hopes it will clear away from off 
our nets; otherwife we ihall lofe them. 

Dull till near noon, the middle of the day was clear, after 
which we had fmaU fnow. Ther. 8* 8'— 3" 14°. 



Mi. 



Mr. Collingham and Tilfed laid the new floor in my bed- TmCiir •«. 
room. The reft of the people were fawing and cleaving tt.ivt. 
firewood. jMrt. 

A clear fky, with fmart froft all day ; it drifted hard till noon. „ji„^ 

Ther. S' 10° —3'' a'.— 8' o" 

William went round the fouth-eaft walk; he brought home Wcdocf. n. 
two flips, and faid that one of the traps was gone. Alexander 
walked the weftem round; he brought home the flip, Ibot a 
ptarmigan, and reported, that three of thofe traps were gone. 
Crane cleared one of the cat-paths, Tilfed was at work on odd 
jobbs in the houfe, and Mr. CoUingham planed the joints in 
the dining-room floor. ' 

Pfl Adear 



N. W. 



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iti<8 



•7»5- 



A cl«arj Qiarp (ky. 
S"" 8° belew o. 



THE SIXTH VOVAGE. 

Ther. 8« 4' hehvro — s' 2° below o 






Friday tj. 



IF. medtrau. 



The people tried to cut out tbe nets, but found fo much 
lolI]r under the ice, thartbey could not get at them. Mr. Col- 
liiigham vifited the well walk-, and found thfe three loft traps ; two 
of which had each a yellow-fojt in them, but the other had not 
been moved; he alfolhotagroafe. t tailed two traps for foxes 
at this end of Slinks Pointy and intended putting out two more, 
but the feverity of the froft drove me home : 1 walk very 
ilowly , and am obliged to lit down often to reft myfelf ; notwith-- 
Handing I am now much better than I have been at any time 
fince July lafti SoUw hares and a fox had been traverling 
Sliok Point laft night. 

A cleaTj fine day, with fmai^ froft. Ther. S"" 5" below o— 
3'' o"— B"" 2" below o. 

Mr. CoUingham, taking William and Alexander with him to 
the fouth-eaft walk, freOi tailed his traps there; he faw the foot- 
ing of only one fox. Crane cleared the weft cat-path, and . 
brought one trap home. 1 vilited my traps, and. tailed two ■ 
others by the fecond break. Juft as 1 got home, a brace of- 
deer crofted the point, and palTed clofe by a rock, which I had ; 
been fitting oh but a few minutes before. A great fea in the 
offing, but the bay continues firm. In the evening Mr. Cbl- 
lingham made pies and gingerbread, for Cfariftmas cheer : Alex- . 
ander burnt one of his little toes. 

A very clear day with (harp f rbft, Ther. 8' 2° below o— 
a' 4*— 8" 2°. 

Tilfed nailed fo»e battens over the feams of the partition 
between the dining-room and kitchen. Mr. Collingham viiited 
his flips in the fouthrweft marlhes, and'biought the farthcll one 

home. 



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THESIXTH VOYAGE. toQ 

borne. (There is but very little chance of catching a deer in a r-j-J — v- 

Ilip now, aa the paths are completely covered with {how] He Oecmin. 

afterwards tried Slink Point for hares, and killed one. I &efii ^^^ 

tailed my traps,, and killed a ptarmigan. Three bands were ''^• 
cutting i;^ firewood. This'being Chiiftmas-eve, we gave the 
people fweet cakes and cheefe for fupper, and made diera a 
prefent of a bottle of rum. 

At noon ten deer crolled the harbour from Martin's Cove, Stmfajr tg. 
and landing in that oppolite the houfe, went upon the High 
Barrens. This being Chriftmas-day, we gave the people roalled 
venifon for dinner, and had for ourfelves a mountain hare, an 
excellent venifon pally, and a berry pie; we afterwards finiQied ■*** 
the remaining three bottles of porter. Alexander's toe being 
mortified at the end, Mr. CoUingham cut that part away, and . 
applied proper dreffings. g, ' 

A dull mild day, with much fnow after night-fall. Ther..8', ^^^ ^^ 
8°— 31- 19°— 8' 26°. 

This morning, much fnow had drifted into the ftore-room Mondiy 16. 
and ihed ; and the door-place of the latter was fo well blocked s. e. uuk, 
up, that we could fcarcely get out of, or into the houfe ; fuch 
prodigious banks are alfo formed round the houfe, by the. trees 
being thinned away too much, that I fear we Ihall be greatly "-^J^- 
incommoded before the fpring comes on. Three hands were 
employed mod part of the day in digging away the fnow from : 
the door, and in beating paths. Blackguard Bay was clear of . /rja 
ioe, except that part over our nets. 

A dull, mild day. Th«r. S"- sa-— 3' 32°— 8'' 89°.- 

Blackguard Bay being dear of ice this morning, Tilfed Snd t,^„^ ^^ 
three hands took up the nets, and had a lazarus and a bedlamer K.if. l. _. 
in them; the latter was much eaten by fea-Iice, and (he.old net 

was , 



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no THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

r— 1"^ — 1 was torn to pieces. At noon, ftven hinds and calves came out 

December, of Martin's Covc, and crofled the harbour to the High Barrens. 

Mr. CoUingham, who was {hooting on Great IQand, faw them 

from thence, and followed them to the vale beyond Burnt 

Knap; but finding that they were gone on for North Point, he 

^,.^ turned back. I vifited my traps, but the two neareft were (6 

/mart. much drifted over, that I could not find them; I frelh tailed the 

other two. William Ihifted the neareft flip to the place where 

the deer came out of the cove, and looked at the other. 

A dull, mild day. Ther. S' 23' — ji- j6° — S' 180. 

w<*«(. !«. Crane dug out my two traps which I tailed afrelh. The 
' ' people were employed varioufly about the houfe. In the even- 
ing Mr. Collingham took William with him, and dug out fome 
of his traps by Martin's Cove ; they being drifted over. Black- 
guard Bay and all the offing is covered with icfi; we juft nicked 
s. i.aiu. the time to get our nets. 

Dull, with Ibme fmall fnow till two in the afternoon, the flty 
then cleared, and the evening was very fine. Ther. S' zi •— 
3' 2I«— 8' 20°. 

Tiii»a>r 19. Mr. Collingham vifited fome of his traps by Blackguard 
'■JV- Bay. William went round thofe to the fouth-eaft, and had a 
crofs-fox ; he faw the flot of a brace of deer which had crofled 
the harbour this morning towards Cape North. Crane and 
Tom brought home all the traps out of the weft cat-path, and 
thofe by the old deer-pound ; they faw the flot of a fingle deer 
at the latter place. Tilfed went a fliooting to Great Ifland, but 
faw nothing. I went upon the hill above the houfe, from 
whence I obferved, that the weft fide of Blackguard Bay was 
clear, but the offing full of drift ice. 
. A dark day, with fome fhow at timei. Ther. 8' t9' — 3' 

38«_8k 27*. 

Mr. 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

Mr. Collingham took three hands with him, and went to 
Great liland, where he tailed three traps for foxes, and from 
thence to South-eaft Cove; round which he tailed nine more. 
Tilfed Ihot a hare. I took Tom with me to the extremity of 
Slink Point, and tailed two traps there. , 

A very fine, mild day; clear in the morning, cloudy after- 
wards. Ther. S' 2o» — 3' i8°— Si" 15°. 

William went the fouth-eaft walk, and brought two flips smri^tu 
home; he met four old deer upon the harbour on his return, "*■• 
which were going from Martin's Cove towards Mount Martin, 
but his gun mifled fire at them. Mr. Collingham took Tilfed ^£^ 
and Crane with him, and carried out fix traps to tail by Haie 
Harbour; but on the iflhmus of Venifon Headhemetwith the ,^^, 
flot of nine old ftags, and foon difcovered them lying down in 
in a marfli, where he got a fliot at one and wounded him: he js„„. 
would have had another good ihot at a brace, but his gun went 
off by accident; he then followed the wounded deer and killed ji„g^ 
him. He had a yellow-fox in one of his traps. At night, find- 
ing out the caufe why his gun would not.ftand on the cock, I', 
repaired the lock. 

A dull mild day; at three o'clock it began to fnow,. and con- 
tinued aU the day. Thcr,» 8°— SI" ZQ°— 8' 30°. ,,86. 

Janiiary> 

It rained for the greateft part of laft night and all this day. s."E.}lJig, 
Thick, dark weather. Ther, a*" 32°— s'' 34°— S** 34*.. 

After breakfafl' Mr. Collingham took five hand^ with him, Momfay t. 
and went fbr his deer, which he lent home by them, and tailed •-'*"'^' 
a couple of traps by the paunch. He foon after difcovered ten 
deer at feed, and got a, fhot at them but milled. One of his 
traps was carried away, and he could fee no fign of it. This 
deer was a very ftout, old ilag; his quarters weighed two hun- 
dreds 



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LIZ TOE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

"^^86 — ' ^*^^ ®"^ twenty-fix pounds, his head nineteen, and humbles 

Jinuary, eghtceo «Dd a quaftcT : therefore when alive, he could not 

have walked kfs than twenty-fcven Ilone ; and had he been 

killed when in prime of greafe, he would have weighed atleaft 

thirty-one ftone, or four hundred and thirty-four pounds. 

Rein-deer have many peculiarities, in which they differ 
from all other kinds of deer j efpecially refpeding their horns. 
That the females have them as well as the males, I have noticed 
jy-^j in former parts of my Journal ; but till how, I nCT'er knew 
>M f' *^** ^^y were fo irregular in mewing them. I have fcen flags 
with their horns on the eight of March ; I killed one the fifth 
of April, which had mewed a litde time before ; yet not only 
this deer, but alfo all the other nine which were xvith him, had 
mewed about the fame time ; for the parts were not well (kinned 
over. One of thofe which I faw on the twenty-third ult. was 
an old flag which had mewed ; but as I bad no idea, that they 
did fo before April, I thought that he naturally had not had 
any horns, from the circumflance of that hind having but one, 
which we caught in a flip on the eight of November. Notwith- 
fianding that the male deer mew fo irregulariy, yet they £iU 
burnifh in Auguft. My people, who lived on Indian Ifland two 
years ago, told me, that the flags mewed at this time of the year, 
but I gave no credit to them- for the reafons which I have men- 
tioned ; alfo, from feeing a three or four years-old male deer 
with his horns on, in the month of May, 1 772. I have alfo rea- 
fon to believe, that neither male nor female rein-deer ever bur- 
nifh their firfl horns, which appear at a year old ; as I never 
law one which had done fo. 

I vifited my traps, but could not obferve Uiat any foxes had 
been on the point fince I was there laft. 

A dark. 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. itj 

A dark, mild day, with fome fmall rain at times. 

8'' 34°— 3' 34°— 8' 32°. 

Mr. Collingham went to Hare Harbour, and tailed five traps Tueflay 3. 
there. Tilfed vifited his traps (north-eaft walk) and had a yeU e. n. e, 
low fox, a hare, and a raven. Tom beat a path to the firewood ^^ 
which had been lately felled. I fcraped two fox-(kins, 

A dark, mild day. Ther. B^ 30° — 3'' 33° — S** 32°. 

Mr. Collingham took two hands with him, and carried eight WedneC 4. 
traps out of the eaft deathfall-path, to the fide of Table Bay, muUratt, 
where he tailed them for foxes, and brought home a flip. 
William villtcd his traps ; he had a raven, and. brought home a 
flip. I went to mine, Ihot a gull, and tailed an old trap for a hare. 

A cloudy, dull, mild day. Ther. 8'' 32° — 3' 32° — 8' 30°. 

Mr. Collingham took William with him, and went to North Tkmfl^ 5. 
Harbour, where he tailed eight traps for foxes ; they faw the "■>»«■ 
others, but had nothing in them. Tilfed went a fliooting to 
Venifon Head, but faw nothing. Two hands were fawing up 
firewood. 

A dull, mild day, with fome fmall fnow in the evening. 
Ther. 8' 28°— 3* 29°— i' 30°. 

Mr. Collingham taking Tilfed and Tom with him, carried Fiidsj- 6. 
eight more traps into the north-eaft walk ; three of which he ^"t- 
tailed for foxes, and left the others on the top of Mount Martin, 
for it blew too hard to tail them there. Crane ahd William were 
felling firewood in White Cove. 

The late mild weather has carried off a great deal of ihow, 
and it was well it did, for we had much more than our ufual 
allowance for the time of the year. A dark morning with fmall 
Vol. in. Q fnow. 



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114 THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

r- — ^r^-i fnow, and cloudy for the reft of the day with dtift, yet the 
jmaJy. weather was mild. Ther. S* 28° — ^3' 27°' — 8' 22°. 

Siunkjt 7, Mr. CoUingham went to the South Barrens, and tailed four- 
jf^fiH^, traps there. Tilfed, Crane, William and myfelf vifited our 
traps ; Crane had a yellow-fox and a rabbit, but there was very 
little fign of foxes any where.- About noon I faw four deer 
come off the fouth point of South-eall Cove, and make for 
Great tOand ; but being alarmed on meeting with Tilfcd's track, 
they lay down on the ice until he difturbed them on his return; 
when they croffed the harbour, paOed through the fecond 
break in Slink Point, and made for Berry Hill point, where 
William, met them and turned them up the Cove j they were 
old flags which had mewed. Tilled law fourteen others on 
the fmall illand in the great pond, which Ues at the head of 
South-eall Cove, but could not get a fliot at them. 

A cloudy, fine day, but flurpin the wind. Then &*' 15°— 
a' 14°— S' 12'. 

Sunday s. Alter brcakfall Tilled and Crane took a walk to the top of 

JfKK". Mount Martin, but faw nothing. Mr. and Mrs. CoUingham 

walked along Slink Point, and met with three ptarmigans there; 

J"-^ he came back for his gun, and killed them all. William brought 

^tjiMt. tome the flip from the head of Martin's Cove. 

A very fine day. Ther. 8' 14°— 3' 16°— S' 14". 

limUf 9. Mr. CoUingham took Tilfed with him, and went upon the 

w.miu. Cape-land a fliooting, but returned at feven in the evening 

f^^ without fuccefs; they law about thirty deer in three herds, and 

mu. Tilfed fired two long Oiots at them. I went upon Slink Point, 

Ihifted my two middlemoft Craps, aod fi>ot a ptarmigan with 

my rifle. , 

Avery 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. ufi 

A very fine day, with moderate froft. Then S' is* — 3'' i6° "-^-Jj — 1 

Mr. Collingham went upon the Cape-land a deer-fliooting, TnOr m 
and met with feveralj one of which, a flag of five years, he fired j^ flTfatofe. 
at and dropped it on the fpot: but after his throat was cut,yie 
jumped up and ran about three miles farther from home. By „ „ ,f^ 
the time he had pauncfaed him tlie fun was fet; he being then ^'^* 
eleven miles from home and the Ihow foft, it was near eight 
o'clock at night when he returned, moft completely tired. Til- 
fed, Crane, and William went to their traps ; the firfl had a 
^ckled owl, the fecond killed a fpruce-game, and the third 
had a capital crofs-fox. Mrs. Collingham took a walk with me 
to my traps ; a hare had ftruck up the old one. William faw 
three deei'crols the harbour on his return. At five in the even- 
ing one of the Canadians from Muddy Bay, and one of Noble 
and Pinfoh's people from ^radife. Came here in order to go a 
d«r-Ifaooting on the Cape-land; the latter brought me a letter 
from Mr. Dier ; they reported, that furs were very fcarce in 
Sandwich Bay. 

A fine day. Ther. 8' 14° — s' i6* — 8* to' . 

It inowed lb hard all day, that nobody could go out of the WcJner. n. 
houfe ; it ceafed in the evening, and then the clouds broke. 'VJ'' 
Ther. 8' 1 3° — 3' 9- — 8' 9». a J. 

After breakfafl, Mr. Collingham, accompanied by the Cana- thurfdajr i«. 
dian'and his companion, took five hands with him and let off j>^. ' 
for hit deer, which lay near the cove by North Point, and they 
returned with the venifon before fix in the evening gready 
fatigued ; for yeilerday's fnow lay deep and light. They faw 
from eighty to a hundred deer in di%rent herds : Mr. Col- 
lingham and the Canadian fired a (hot each, but miSed. I vi- 
Cted my nearell trap-llation, and fat watching about half an 
Q2 hour, 



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ii6 



Frldaj- 13. 
K. W. lUrJ. 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

liour, but faw nothing. In the evening feven old flags croflcd 
the harbour to the Cape-land. Two of the people were Ilightly 
froft-burnt ; one on his left ear, the other on his right wrifl:. 

A clear day, with low drift and fmart froft ; in the evening 
it began to drift fmartly, and continued all night. Ther. 8* 
11* — ^^ g" — S"" 5*. 

It drifted Co hard all day, that nobody could go out of doors, 
and in the evening it came on to fnow alfo; fevere froft all day. 
Ther. B>^ 1 1<* below o — 3'' 9° below o — 8'' 14° below o. 



Stmrday 14. The deer weighed a hundred and ninety-two pounds. 
%Mg.' Small fnow and fmart drift, with fevere froft all day, which 

kept all hands at home. Ther. 8'' 13" below o — s*" 13* below o 
— H^ 15° below o. 



Sunda)' 15. 
W./marlt 



Broken clouds, with fome drift, and fmall fnow at times, and 
fevere froft. Ther. S"* 140 below — 3b 120 below o — -Sh 9° be- 
low o. 



UatAvf 16. After breakfaft the Canadian and his companion fet out on 
N. w. frmn. their return homewards. At the fame time Mr. Collingham» 
Tilfed, Crane, and William went to their traps. At noon five 
deer came from the head of the harbour towards thishoufe; I 
waited for them at the path-end, but before they came within 
ftiot, they turned downwards and pafled through the fecond 
break in Slink Point. Mr; CoUingham brought two legs of 
filver- foxes; he had fireda Ihot at nine deer, but miffed them. 
William brought a yellow-fox, and had feen fixteen deer in two 
herds. Crane had a rabbit, and faw five deer. Tilfed had 
feen nine others. 

A fine day, but fharp in the wind. Ther. S** 8° below o*- 
S*" 5" bebw o — S"* 8° below o. 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 117 

Mr. CoUingham vifitcd fome of his, and four of my traps. '~~^ — ' 
Tilfed was employed in joiner's work, and the reft of the peo- J*nu»ty. 
pie were cutting up, and fawing firewood. For thefe three days "^"^^/J^' 
paft I have been much indifpofed, having a flux, but was w'. fy f' 
fomewhat better to-day ; I have alfo been affliiSed with a violent 
inflammation in my right eye, occalioned by fome frozen earth 
flying into it on Thurfday laft. mtdtrtoe. 

A clear flty till two in the afternoon, but the froft was very 
fevere in the wind. Ther. 8*" la"- below o — 3'' 6" bdow o— - 
S*" 10* below o. 

Mr. CoUingham went his weft walk, and faw much flot of wrfoef. i«. 
deer, but no fign of foxes. I took Tom with me to my traps, ^-^'f"^- 
tailed another, and miet with one ptarmigan, which. I killed. 
Tilfed was planing and jointing boards. The reft of the peo- 
ple were hauling home firewood. jJwij. 

Clear till noon, it then grew cloudy, and fnowed at night; 
keen froft. Ther. S*" 12" below o — 3'' 10* below o — S*" 6" be- 
low o. 

Mr. CoUingham went a fliooting into the woods to the weft- Thurfday 19. 
ward, where he killed five fpruce-game and a groufe. Tilfed ^;jj£r^ 
planed boards. The reft of the people hauled home the re- 
mainder of the firewood which lay on the hill- they then 
cleaned guns and helved hatchets. 

It drifted hard all day. Ther. 8!* 6» below o — 3'' 3° below o 
—8'' 6" below o. 

Mr. Collingham taking William and Tom with him, carried Ffi<Uy ao. 
out feven traps, which he tailed for martens in the woods, weft ^- '*'•>*"«• 
of this place : he alfb built a deathfall, and (hot a groufe and jman. . 
a, fpnipe-game, Tilfed an,d Crane vifited their traps; the fpr- 

xasx. 



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ii8 THE SIXTH VOYAGEi 



r— Jj-n mer had a hare, part of wUch fiime vennin had eaten. No 
Jmtuy^ fign of fsMes stiy wheie. 

TIk fore part of this tlay was clear, with finart daft, and the 
latter cloud)r without drift Ther. 8^8° below o — 3>> «" — 
' 8' 4°. 

Siu4t •!■ l^i'- CoUingham took Tilfed with him, and tailed the three 
y^^ traps which be left upon Mount Martin on the fixth inliant ; 
^rt< ;dfo vi&ed thoie by South-eaft Give, aiid afterwards went 
towards the head of Curlew Harbour, They iaw twelve deer; 
Mr.- CoUingham fired twice, and wounded an old hind, but did 
not get her. William vifited his traps, and bad a yellow-fox 
and two ravens. He faw three deer in North Harbour, and 
fix more on this fide of the Ulbmus, but could not get a Ihot at 
any of them. I walked to my traps, and law eight old dags, 
cnii fing about the harbour for four hours, when three of tfaem 
crofTed South^eall Cove, and went upon the land on the north- 
«aft fide of it ; the reft walked towards Mount Martin : one of 
them had both his boms ; another had but one ; and the reft 
none. I fat watching them until I was almoll frozen. 

Small detached clouds, and the frofl much abated. Ther. 
8» io°— 3' 9°— S' 8». 

SuiA; ». Mr. CoUingham took William and Tom with him ; alfo, his 
tr, mdtntt. jnvn dog and my greyhound, and went after the deer which he 
wounded yefterday : he found her on a fmall ifland, near the 
north fhore of Table Bay ; as the water there was not frozen, 
fhe took it, and fwam to North Harbour Illand, where he got 
another Ihot and killed her dead. She was with calf, and in 
excellent condition ; having much fat on her: her former calf 
was not far off, but it left her on their approach. He faw 
twenty-nine other deer, but could not get a Ihot at them. At 

eleven 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 119 

eteren o'dock, I took Alexander with me, and went to the fe- 1 * 1 
cond break in Slink Point where I law a hare, and diicorered J""^- 
ironi' thence, fix deer upon Venifon Head. Alexander went 
back, with orders for Tilfed and himfelf to go alter them. I 
fat watching them above two hours, when the froA obliged me 
to return home. The deer foon after getting fight of Tilled, 
croifed the Bay fi)r the firft break; but Crane being at that ^i^ 
time in the ad of taking a yellow-fox out of one of my traps 
there, they turned down the Bay, went through Weftem Tickle 
and then up South eaft Cove. Alexander Ihot three groule. ^ 

A dull day. Ther. 8' 3°— a' ai"— 8' 5°. 

Early this morning five hands went off with a fled fi>r the Mombxi], 
deer, and they returned with her at two o'clock ; Ihe weighed * '^' '*•*• 
a hundred and twenty-.eight pounds. At ten, two men croifed 
from the fouth, to the High Barrens. Mr. CoUingbam vifited 
fome of his traps- by Blackguard Bay, and on Venilon Head. he * 

met with thofe three ftags, which had leparated from the other 
five on Saturday lafl:. He fired twalhots at them, but milled 
both times. I went to my fecond trap-flation, but the weather 
proving very indiflerent, I returned immediately. Six dear 
had fed a httle this morning, near the firll trap-ftation; and they 
had croifed from thence, to the point under Mount Martin. 
At four in the afternoon an old hind and three calves crofled 
to the South Barrens, and appeared to have been diilurbed. At 
fix o'clock two of Noble and Pinfon's people came here ; one 
of them from Muddy Bay for fome falve for his comrade, who 
was much froft-bumt in his hands, and the other was &nt ' 
from Paradife by Dier, to flioot deer fijr him. 

The morning was fine, but at eleven o'clock the Iky over- 
call, the tops of the hills were loft in fog, and in the evening 
fome fmall Crow fell. Ther. 8» 2.— a* 6" 8' 6*. 

At 



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120 THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

I — ^7— t ' At nine this morning one of the Canadians and their Indian 

januaiy. catnehere; they were the fame people whom we fawyeflerday; 

Tueiiby 24. jj^gy (^^g ivom Muddy Bay on Friday lail on a deer-fliooting 

//.tr/mrt. party, but had killed nothing. William walked the deathfall- 

path and brought a marten. 

. It drifted fmartly till ten this morning, and there was a clear 

Iky, with Uuirp froft all day. Then 8^ 6* below o — ^^ 4* 

below o — 8'' 4° below o. 

Wohrf. 15. After breakfaft, all the llrangers went homeward. We all 
"jkirT' vifited our traps; William had a raven, but nobody elfe any 
thing. At one o'clock I faw eight deer crofs the harbour, from 
my firft trap-ftation, to the point oppofite Weftern Tickle. At 
fitji. t^5^ J obferved five go from the north^eaft part of Great Ifland, 
up Curlew Harbour ; and at five. I faw the one-horned flag 
moderate, and another go up the harbour ; Mr. CoUingham being on Ven- 
ifon Head, faw them come from Hare Iflands. He alfo 
met with the frelh (lot of two herds on the head, and obferved, 
""" that feveral had been there yefterday. Crane faw the frefli 
track of a wolf i as did William alfo, and the frelh flot of a An- 
gle deer. 

It was Iharp this morning, and drifted a little, but that ceafed 
by pine o'clock, and the reft of the day proved mild enough. 
■ Ther. 8' 4° below o— s* 6°- 8' 9". 

Thurfla a6 Tilfed was employed in joiners work, and the reft of the peo- 
« ir./nv. pie were felling firewood in White Cove. 

It fnowed and drifted both morning and evening, but during 

the middle of the day, it drifted only. Ther. Si" 7° — ^3'' j" — 

8' 1'. 

Frkk «7 " drifted fo hard to-day, that nobody could go out until It 
ir K.ir^ ceafed, which was at one o'clock ; when William went up the 

cat- 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

cat-path, and brought in a marten, which the Canadian had ta- 
ken out of a trap, and hung upon a tree : he faw the tracks of 
a wolf, a fox, and fome other martens. Tilfed was employed 
on carpenter's work, and the reft of the people in fawing and 
cleaving firewood. In the evening Mr. Collingham went upon 
Shnk Point, where he met with fome gnsufe, and killed one. 

A clear Iky, with fmart froft. Ther. S^ lo*" beJow o — ^^ 4* 
below o — S"" 4° below o. 

All hands went round their traps to-day ; Mr. Collingham 
to his eaft and fouth walks : he faw about twenty deer at feed, 
near the Shoal Cove, which lies north-eaft of North HarboUr, 
and a brace more on the High Barrens. William killed a fpruce- 
game, and faw feven deer in North Harbour, at which he fired 
a long fhot, but miffed ; and as he was returning home, he ob- 
ferved a brace croffing the harbour from the South Barrens. 
Taking Tom and Alexander with me, they built three Ihooting 
Hands of fnow in Weftern Tickle. In the mean time I fat 
watching on the ihill, and from thence faw about fifteen deer, 
going from the north-eaft end of Great Ifland, to the oppofite 
point on the fouth-eaft fide of the harbour, where they landed 
and fed. Tilfed faw fix others on the ice, between Round and 
Great Illand. Table Bay is now faft, nor was any water to be 
leen from the top of Mount Martin, 

Clear till three o'clock, when it overcaft, and threatened 
more fnow. Ther. 8^ j" below o — 3'' 4° below o — S*" 2" 
below o. 



i;8G. 
Jinuaiy. 



Silunlay aS. 
W. V, w. 
/man. 



This morning, four flags which had mewed, were difcovered 
lying down on the ict^ near the fouth Ihore of this harbour ; 
they afterwards went upon the edge of the South Barrens, 
where they fed a little, and lay down again. Mr. Collingham 
got round them, but they perceived him and went off acrofs 
Vol. III. ' R the 



Suodiy 29, 
W.Jman, 



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THE SIXTH VQYAGE. 

the harbour for the High Bs^rrens ; where he heading thenij 
they turned downwards, and went up South-eafl Gjve : Willi- 
i^n and Alexander met them there, and the latter fired a, long 
{hot, but mifTed. Crane and Tom took a wfdk up the cat-p^, 
nj^, ^ut got nothing. 

A dull, mild day, with a little Imall fnow at times. Ther, 
8»- 130— a*- 23"— 8'' 3°. 

Mond»y 30. Mr. Collingham took Tilfed and William with him to the 
5. ffrji. lands round Curlew Harbour, where they met with feveral 
herds of deer, but could not get near any of them : they faw 
the tracks of a few wd ves alfo. Crane went to Mr. CoUingfaam's 
Tiyeft walk, but got nothing. 1 vifited my traps, and difcoveriog 
^ herd of deer feeding upon Venifon Head, I watched them; 
bll noon, when, winding Crane on his retum,^ they came upon 
the ice in Blackguard Bay, and there lay down. I waited for 
them in the farthed Hiooting-ftand. and at two o'clock perceived 
thirteen others coming towards me, from South-ead Cove : 
foon after the firfl herd got up, and Crane fired a random fhot: 
s.w.iuiit, at them, to drive them to me; they came in a full trot and 
palled clofe by me, when I fired and killed an old hind. I af- 
terwards got four other (hots at them, but my right eye was 
lb much inflamed and dim, that I could fcarcely fee them at 
thediftance of half a Ihot. The other herd had got within 
three hundred yards of me, when I fired the firft time, which 
cauled them to turn back, and they went up the cove again. 
Thofe which I fired at, croffed Great Ifland and the harbour, to 
the neck of land at the mouth of it ; where they would have 
ran foul of Tilfed, who was returning home, had they not ac- 
cidentally altered their courfe, by taking the ice again, and 
going up Curlew Harbour. Alexander and Tom were felling 
firewood in White . Cove. Crane and Jack brought home the 
quarters of the deer, which weighed a hundred and forty -two. 

pounds. 



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Tuedajr gi. 
5. W.firojigi 



iard. 

S. 
ktatygakt. 

Februaiy. 
WedneCi. 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

|ioiinds. A good deal of water appeared in the offing to the 
north-cafl, and the outer part of Table Bay is clear of ice. 

A very fufpicious, though mild day. Ther. S*" 7* — s^ 32* 
— S"" 19». 

Mr. CoUingham went a {hooting to Great Ifland, but faw 
nothing. Tilfed put one of the cage-traps together. Crane 
brought home the fkin, head, and humbles of my deer. Four 
hands were felling firewood in White Cove. The offing is 
pretty clear of ice. 

A little rain fell this morning before day-light, and fome hail 
aSttT; mild, thawing weather. Ther. S^ 26° — ^^ 34° — S"* 34°, 

I fet the people to dig in the fnow for the new well, which 
was made in the beginning of the winter, but the weather drove 
them from their work at ten o'clock, without finding it ; tfaey 
were employed afterwards in baUing twine. Mr. CoUingham 
went into the woods at the head of Martin's Cove, to look for 
a good place to fell firewood, and fortunately found one ; for ^ . 
White Cove is greatly expofed to wind, and confequently to 
drift. Tilfed fet up another cage-trap. Alexander fliot a 
groufe hear the houfe. I made fome fewels. The alteration 
of the weather to-day was very great, for it thawed fo freely this 
morning, that we were afraid all our venifon, of which we have 
llill great plenty, would be fpoiled ; but at ten o'clock, the 
wind fhifting, brought on a (mart froft with fnow and drift. 

Ther. 7" 36°— s"" 6'— S^ 3\ 

All hands, except myfelf, went round their traps, and I fent ThurtUy 
Tom to mine ; he killed a ptarmigan ; Crane, another j Tilfed 
loft one of his traps, but could not fell what had carried it off; 
William had two ravens, fhot two fprucc-game, faw feven deer 
4>D North Harbour Ifl»id, and the flot of feveral others on the 
R 2 Iflhmus; 



123 






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£. S. E. 
liuU. 



SMuiday 4: 
W.Jkan. 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

Ifthmus; one of his traps was carried away- alfo, and no Rgn by 
what. I took a dofc of falls to-day. In hopes it would abate 
the inflamation of my eye ; which alarms me greariy, by con- 
tinuing fo long, and the fight being very dim. The ice is now 
fo flippery, that deer wilt fcarcely attempt to crofs it. 
A clear, fine day. Ther. y'' 40 below o — 3"^ 3,° — 8** o". 

At ten this morning, Mr. CoUingham went over to the Cape- 
land, and took Tilfed, Crane, William, Alexander and Tom 
with him ; alfo, two Newfoundland dogs and the greyhound. 
He met with fome deer in the vale beyond Burnt Knap, and 
furrounded them ; but they efcaped without any body getting 
a (hot at them. The weather then proving bad, he called the peo- 
ple away, joined Tilfed, and came home '. the others followed, 
and were not far behind when he faw them laft. Thefe two 
returned at four o'clock ; but as none of the other four, nor 
the dogs are arrived, I am greatly alarmed for their fafety, as 
they muft have loft themfelves, and there is no flielter on all 
that ground. Tilfed fhot a brace of ptarmigans near the houfe. 

The morning was grey, and it grew dull at eleven o'clock ; 
foon after it began to fnow a little, and by three in the afternoon, 
it blew, fnowed, and drifted fmartly ; at nine at night, the wind 
rather abated, but it fnowed harder than before, Ther. 7* 0° 
— 2^ 15" — S*" 20°. 

At half after nine this morning, Mr. CoUingham went off 
for Table Hill, and Tilfed for Mount Martin, to look for our 
loft people. At eleven o'clock, William and Tom returned al- 
moft.fpeechlefs ; and fo cold, as fcarcely to have any percep- 
tible warmth about their bodies ; their clothes were barricaded 
with ice in fuch manner, that I was obliged to cut them off; 
and upon the whole, they were ftiocking fpeftacles. I immedi- 
ately put them to bed, and gave them fome warm tea, with a 

litde 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

little foft bread and butter ; an hour after I gave them a cup of < 
warm, ftronggrog; and feme timeafter that, abafonof venifon 
broth. Fortunately, the night being mild, they were not froft- 
bumt, except Tom, flightly, at the end of one ofhis great toes; 
but that I did not regard. They reported, that after lofing 
fight of Mr. CoUingham, they differed in opinion about the 
courfe to be taken ; and each opinion prevailing by turns, they 
wandered about till fun-fet, and then fcraped a hole in the 
fnow, into which they and the dogs all got, apd remained there 
till within two hours of day -break, when Crane left the reft, in 
order to return home ; that before day-break, the other three 
fet out, an4 foon after came upon ice, which they took for our 
harbour, and walked forward for fome diftance ; when, fufpeft- 
ing they were wrong, they made back for the land again, and 
foon after got fight of Table Hill. They then came into North 
Harbour, and there Alexander tiring, would fit down, but the 
two came on. They faid that they met Mr. CoUingham and 
Tilfed upon this harbour, and had direfted them where to find 
Alexander. At noon I fent Jack off for North Harbour with a 
fled, fome blankets, and deer-Ikins. At one o'clock Crane re- 
turned ; his clothes were covered with ice, and he was ilighdy 
burnt about his hams, which were bare by his tlockings flipping 
down J but he was not near fo much tired nor cold, as the 
others. He ftruck down to Table Bay alfo, and then ftupidly 
turning to the left, got as far as North Point before he knew 
where he was. As he was returning, he faw twenty-eight deer-, 
and one of the dogs which accompanied him, got hold of one 
of them upon a pond of bare ice, but could not hold it. At 
two o'clock, Mr. CoUingham returned with information, that 
he found, Alexander on North Harbour, afieep upon the ice ;■ 
that he knew him, and fpoke once ; and with his afliftance was 
able to w^k a few yards ; when his legs failing, he and Tilfed 
carried himonlhoFe, laid him in the fun under fome bufhea. 

and; 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

and covered him with part of their own cldthes ; but that he 
died immediately after. He was not burnt, but ftarved to 
death with cold ; having no warmth about him, except a little 
on his breaft. Tilfed retui;ncd foon after, having covered Alex- 
ander with boughs, to keep off the foxes, &c. 

Alexander Thompfon formerly belonged to that gang of 
frefli-water pirates, who committed fo many depradations upon 
the river Thames, and was a moft defperate and hardened vil- 
lain. He frequently recounted the various robberies in which 
he had been concerned, and always concluded with exprt fling 
a determined refolution, to return to his former courfe oi life 
if ever he faw England again. As he talked of murdering 
a man on the flighteft provocation, with as little concern as he 
would of killing a dog; it feems as if Providence had cut him off 
in this Ihocking manner, to prevent the mifchiefs which he 
otherwife would have committed; and had miraculoufly preferv- 
ed the other two for the work of reformation: indeed they are by 
much the bell of the four; their greateft fault being idlenefs. 

Crane and Tom brought home their guns, but Alexander 
having broken both his own and William's, they left them be- 
hind; and two of the dogs remained in the hole where they 
fpent the night. As Mr. Collingham was returning, I faw a 
hind and calf crofs the harbour behind him, going to the eaft- 
ward ; three others croffed the fame way afterwards, and at 
fun-fet I obferved Sve, feeding on the fmall Duck Ifland. Mr. 
Collingham faw fix as he went. At dark the people got up 
and found no other effe£ls from what had happened, than fome 
pains in their limbs from fatigue and cold, which I hope will 
foon go off. 

It blew hard, with much fnow and drift all laft night, and the 
drift continued till nine this moming, with cloudy weather, 

but 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 127 

but the iky. then cleared, and the day proved very fine and f^"^^^^ 
mild ; in the evening it grew dull again, threatening more fnow. Fduuaiy. 
Ther. y^ 20" — s^ ai" — H*" igp. 

After breakfaft Mr. CoUingham went out to look for the ^"^ ^• 
dogs, but returned immediately ; as he faw four deer coming « if. /man. 
up the harbour towards the boufe : we both went to the firft 
break in Slink Point, but they having heard him calling his dog, 
lay down on the ice. He then purfued his firil intention, and 
I lent Tilfed round the hi^l to give them the meeting at the ^^. 
other end of the point ; and Crane, to drive them to us» but 
they went off towards South-eaft Cove, when we all returned 
home. At two o'clock I perceived them lying down on the 
ice near the eaft (hore; Tilfed attempted to crofs the harbour, 
and waylay them at the point of South-eall Cove; but crofling 
too near them, they wfint oiF towards the ifthmus. Mr. CoUing- 
ham returned at three, with both the dogs -, the Newfoundlander 
was lying by Alexander's gun, which was reared againft the 
very tree at which Tom was ftationed in their laft attempt on 
the deer ; and the greyhound was lb completely drifted up in the *"' 

hole, in which the people fpent the night (and which was only 
a few yards from that tree) that he was obliged to dig him out. 
The extreme ftupidity of thofe people is aflonifhing; for it is 
fcarcely poffible to believe, that they could wander about for 
more than three hours, without ever quitting the fpot on which 
they colle6led together ; yet fo i( was: for they had only walked 
round in a fmall circle. Kad the weather yefterday been the 
fame as it was this morning, they would all have perifhed ; and 
as it was, the two boys mull have died within fight of the houfei 
had not Mr. CoUingham fortunately met them on the harbour, 
and encouraged them to pulh forwaids. They are now, thank 
God, perfectly recovered : Crane has a flight bliiler oa one 
wrill, but it is of no coafeq^uence. 

Mr. 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

Mr. CoUingham faw ten deer in three parties, but could not 
get a [hot at any of them. 

It drifted fmartly in the morning, but ceafed by eleven o'clock ; 
the iky was clear all day, and the afternoon very fine. Ther. 
yh io°— g*- io°— S*" 80. 

Monday 6. After breakfafl: we fent four hands to perform the laft 

s. littu. ceremony over the corps of Alexander Thompfon ; which 
w/*' they did^y cutting a hole through the ice in North Harbour^ 
reading the funeral fervice, and plunging the body into the 
water : for it would he as difficult to make a grave in the earth 
at this time of the year, as it would be to dig one in a frceftone 
quarry. 

Mr. CoUingham vifitcd his traps by Hare Harbour, and met 
with feven deer there ; from whence they croffed Blackguard 
Bay, pafled through Wcftern Tickle, and went up South-eaft 
Cove. I got fight of them from Slink Point, and gave them the 
meeting in the tickle : they were mixed deer; one of them the 
one-horned flag, and another was one of his hornlefs companions, 
«^*^. which was much ftouter than himfelf : I fired at the one-horned 
gentleman, but the dimnefs of my eye favedhim; as the dif- 
tance was a hundred and forty yards. I alfo difcovered with 
my glafs, a brace of deer upon the Small Iflhmus, on the eaft 
point of Huntingdon Ifiand, from whence they went to Sad- 
ler's Ifland ; the diftance being feven miles from me. At four 
o'clock, three old deer which had mewed, crofled this harbour, 
from Spit Point to the point of the High Barrens. A fox had 
been near a couple of my traps, but did not touch the bait ; 
he went for Great Ifiand. The Ofiing is quite faft, and it 
looks firm. 

A dull day threatening friow, and, notwithftanding the feve- 
rity of die froft, the air felt pcrfeftly mild, becaufe there never 

was 



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rflE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

was more than a light air of wind, and for the moft part it was 
calm. Small fnow after dark. Ther. 7'' 2* — 3** 4* — S"* 8". 

We had the venifon taken out of the cafks, and forted : there TueiiUy 7. 
were of rumps, loins, and chines, twenty-two : of rounds, ^'Y. 
flioulders, and breads, thirty-one; and of heads, Ihins, and necks, 
twenty-feven. Tilfed put together another cage-trap, and in 
Tthe evening the Ihed-door was cleared of fnow, and a paflage 
dug, that we might get out of the houfe, which was be- 
come imprafticable foi*any thing larger than a dog. 

It blew, fnowed, and drifted very hard till four in the after- 
noon, when the wind became moderate, and the fnow turned 
to fmall rain ; for the froft abated very fall as the day advan- 
Kid. Ther. 7'' 8' — j*" 31° — S^ 30", 

Tilfed fet up the fourth edge-trap, and made fome bridges Wedncca. 
for them. Three hands were at work in building batteries in ^j^r^' 
Weftern Tickle, for deer-lhooting; the former ones being 
thawed away: they finilhed three, and brought home my 
double gun, gown, and petticoat; I generally left them there. 

The laft fall of fnow was a very heavy one, and as the wea- 
ther was mild towards the latter part, it was fucceeded by a 
filver thaw ; all the high grounds are con/equently covered and 
turned to ice, which makes it e<jually bad for our walking, 
and deer feeding, 

A fair day till four o'clock, when it began to fnow and drift 
a little, then 7*^30*^'' 26°— S"" 2S°. 

Mr. Collihgharn tboK four hands with him, arid wtnt into thfe "^^^ 9* 
riew deathfall-patii, which h'e carried on farther towards Table 
Say, arid built five more deatfefalls thefeiri. Cfant hid a mar- 
ten, and (hot fix ptarmigans. *^' 
Vol. IH. S a clear. 



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jgo THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

<— ^-^^ — > A dear, fine day, with moderate froft. Ther. y"* ao** — 3'' 22* 

Fcbrnarjr. —8'' 1 4*. 



Fri^ 10. 

Wind 
Jt.tf.IV. 



Simnby II. 
E.wmltrtUt, 



Mr. CoUingham went upon Slink Point to watch for deerj he 
faw eight upon the barrens on the fouth fide of Mount Martin, 
but as he was preparing a (hot at them, the wind fhifted, 
when they fcentedhim and went off: they were mixed deer; 
two were old flags with their horns on, and one of them 
had a remarkable large pair. He Ihot two brace of ptarmi- 
gans and a brace of groufe. Tilfed, Crane, and William vifited 
their traps; two of Tilfed's were fo much drifted over, that he 
could not find them; he killed a brace of ptarmigans. One of 
William's traps was carried away by a deer, and Crane did not 
go to his farthelt one. They all faw fome tracks of foxes; 
many of their traps were robbed, but none of them wouTd 
flrike up. Tom was lengthening the deathfall path. 

A pleafant, fine day. Ther. j^ 12" — q^ i 8« — S*" 13°. 

Mr. CoUingham taking William with him, went to North 
Harbour IQand to look tor the lofl trap, but they could fee no 
figns of it. From thence they walked to the place where our 
people lay the night of the third inflant, and brought home 
Alexander's gun, but could not find William's, which Alexander 
had on the morning of the fourth and had left by the way. 
They faw great numbers of deer in diflferent herds; Mr. Col- 
lingham fired two long fhots at about thirty, on North Harbour, 
and flruck one of them, but it did not quit the herd. Tilfed 
and Crane cut the path through, to the upper part of Table Bay, 
and built four more deathfalls in it; the former Ihot a fpruce- 
game. My eye is ftUl fo bad, that I keep the houfe. 

The morning was tolerably fine, but the clouds kept work- 
ing up all day, and in the evening it came on to fnow and drift. 
Ther. 7* 12**— a* 23»— S^- 24*. 

In 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

. Jn flie afternoon, Mr. CoUingham read prayers to the famUy. 
Hard gales with final! Ihow and much drift till three o'clock, 
and all ceafed by eight at night. Ther. f 28°— a' i8« — 8' 
16'. 

Mr. CoUingham went to the High Barrens, where he faw 
fourteen deer ; he fired at one, and grazed its bread. Tilfed, 
Crane, William, and Tom were at work in the new paths, where 
they built fix deathfalls and three cat-houfes ; making in the 
whole, fifteen of the former, and five of the latter. Tilfed 
fhot a brace of fpruce-game there, and William, a brace of 
ptarmigans near the houfe. I ventured out as far as Wcftem 
Tickle, and obferved, that one herd of ten, and another of fix 
deer had come through from Venifon Head fince laft night, 
and had fed upon Slink Point. 

This day was exceedingly fine, and very hot from ten till 
one o'clock. Ther. 7' 8° — 3' 12° — S' 10°. 

Mr. CoUingham went to the High Barrens, where he law 
about twenty deer in different herds, and killed a ftag in his 
third year. All our working people were felling firewood at 
the iiead of Martin's Cove. In the afternoon I faw a hind and 
calf crqfs the harbour from Weftern Tickle. 

A very fine day ; hot in the fun, though cold out of it. 
Ther. 7'' 8°— 3'' 12°- S* 8°. 

Early this morning I fent four hands with a fled for the deer, 
and in the evening had it flrippcd and broke up; the quarters 
weighed a hundred and feven pounds. Mr. CoUingham went 
to Venifoa Head : as he was croifing Blackguard Bay, he faw 
three deer go from the head, through Weftern Tickle; and as 
foon as he got upon Berry Hill, he difcovered eleven others 
lying down on the north fide of it. He got round them, and 
S 2 drove 




tujenuti 



Tuefiby 14. 



WedneT. 15. 
K W, tiitk. 



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J32 THE SIXTI1.'C0>!jVCE. 

•"Jj;— 1 drove t^enji for AVefterq Tickle, wl^fe Toiji yr^.cpji^iflg Ae 
fcbmy. batteries, and^^fi^ ii|ry dq^Jilf^gliB,, CcHjlditti^ blockhead b^t 
haye rcmainedq^ietjn qne of ths l»tt?fies, hemight.ha.veh3di 
two excellent fliots, but he ran from one to the other, till the, 
deer, faw him, when they divided ; five croffed Great Ifland,' 
and the, other fix .paQed. through, .the firft. break in Slink Point. 
Tilfed, Crape,and William went to their traps, and jlruck them 
dl up i for a^ there are but few foxes hereabouts, we- think it 
beft. to employ them^ for the reniaipde.r of the winter, in felling- 
firewood for the next feafon. In the morning .Tilled, faw fix 
deer go ftbm Great Ifland, up South-eaft Cove ; and when he 
was near th? head of it, he obferved thofe five,, which had 
crolTed that ifland, from.Tom, coming towards him ; he fired 
at them, at a hundred and twenty y^rds dillance, but mifled. 
Neither Crane nor William faw any thing. A borace of flout 
wolves were upon Great Ifland and Venifon Head laft night. 
Tom ftruck four of my. traps up, but could not find the others. 
. My eye is much better; 

A very fine, fliarp day. Ther. 7' 2° below o — ^s* i" — S' 0°. 



ftiiirfday 16. 



At ten this morning, I difcovered fix deer coming from the 
K w^ N. Ifthmus alqng the eaft fliore of the harbour ; they went upon 
"*"*' the High Barrens, and were joined by above a dozen others : 
at the fame time I obferved about a dozen more, feeding upon 
the Ifthmus. Mr. CoUingham crofled the harbour after the 
former, and although he went no farther than the eaft fide of 
the High Barrens, he faw not lefs than two hundred, difperfed 
about in every direction. He could only get random fliots at 
above three hundred yards, and ftruck but one flightly.' At 
noon I fent Tilfed to South eaft Cove, who returned by the fide 
of Mount Martin, where he faw fcven deer, but could not get 
near.them. Atone o'clock ayoung hind and two calv;.-;c;iine 
from the oppolite fide of the harbour: I waylayed them on 

Slinfc 



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THE SIXTH VOVAGfl.. igj 

Slink Poinii, but, finding. they, aUered.thcircourfe before they <^'7!j^7^ 

CBffie npar me, I (hewed .my felf and .Hied at: them, in bopes of; Fdn»ry. 

•turnin^g them up South-eall Cove ; , but they then wend towards: 

Spit Point. Sixofithofe which.wereonithelfthmus, followed i ^^ 

the firR herd; but the reft remained there till. dark. Crane; *«*• 

William, and Tom felled thirty turns o£ firewood each, in Mar* 

tin's Cove. 

A very fine day, although the froft was (harp. Ther. 
yh 4° below o — ^3*" 6° — S"" 6°. 

Mr. CoUingham took four hands with him and went to the fn^r »?• 
Cape-land, where he faw greatnumbers of deer and fired three. 
. (hots, but miffed aU of them ; William wounded one flightly. 
In the afternoon I difcovered three herds of deer ; viz. one of 1 
feven, feeding upon the Iflhmus ; another of feven, crofling the 
harbour from the point of the High, to the- South Barrens ; 
and a third of five, feeding upon the neck of South-eaft Gove ; 
at fun-fet, the latter pafled through Wcftcrn Tickle, to Venifon- 
Head. 

The greatcfl. part of the deer which Mr. CoUingham faw both n. n. e; 



/r^. 



yefterday and to-day, were males, and moft of them had mew- 
ed ; yet it does not appear to me, that there is that regularity 
in the mewing of rein-deer, as of red, or fallow deer; for the - 
oldeft of thofe begin firft, and the feafon lafts - about, fix 
weeks ;. whereas, fome of the itouteft of thefe deer have their 
horns on now, though many younger ones have loft theirs j and 
it is above fix weeks fince we knew that they began to mew : ; 
none of them have yet put out their new horns. 

Some fmail fnow fell from two to four o'clock this afternoon, 
which drifted ; but the reft of the day was fine, though (harp. . 
Ther. y*" 2°—$^ 12°—^'' 2*. 

Three . 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

Three hands were felling firewood in Maitin s Cove, till two 
in the afternoon ; then two of them came home to cut up wood 
for the kitchen* and the third walked the death&U-path, 
but got nothing. Tilfed ihiffed the fkin of the lafl; deer, and 
fixed it upon the ice near the houfe, in hopes that it would de- 
n.fnA. coy others. I ordered the greyhound to be killed; being very 
poor and mangy. In the afternoon^ Mr. Collingham walked 
^ong Slink Point, but faw nothing. I was making fewels mofi: 
part of the day. 

A herd of deer were feeding, and lying down on the iffli- 
mus all day; and in the evening another herd joined them. 

A fine, but ftiarp day. Tber. 7'' &* below o — ^ o" — 8*" 4* 
below o. 

Sund^ 19. I *iad the fewcis ftretchedout upon theicc and meafuredj 

K.frtjh. and found there were five hundred and fifty-two yards. In the 

afternoon Mr. Ccdlingham read prayers to the family. 

Clear till noon, after which it fnowed and drifted llightly- 
Ther. 7'' 2*" below o — ^ 12" — S*" lo". 

Monday s* Wc began to give the fervants three meals to-day. I was 
x.w.hard. jjjjj.jj j^j work all day on a pair of Efquimau fnow-eyes for 

myfelf. 
*^^' It fnowed and drifted much till three o'clock, when thc.fky 

cleared, but the drift continued, though ibmewhat abated. 

The froft was moft exquifitely cutting all day. Ther. -j^ 12" 

below o — 3*" 8° below o — S"" 14" below o. 

Tueflay at. Tilfed made a new reel for the fewcis. Three hands were 

N./rt^. felling firewood half the day, and two the reft of it. Mr. 

Collingham took a walk to the wooders, and ihot a fpruce-gamc; 

he alfo knocked another down with a flick. I tinifhed my 

Ihow- 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

fnow-eyes, and executed them much to my fatisfafUon. At 
eight this morning a brace of deer crofled the harbour from 
the fouth, to the High Barrens; and in the afternoon, another 
brace followed them from Martin's Cove. 

A dull day, and very fliarp; in the evening it came on to 
fnow and drift again, Ther. y'' 17' below o — q^ 6" below o 
— df' 3° below o. 

Crane cleared the deathfall-path, and brought an ermine. Wedncr. 22, 
William and Tom were felling firewood. Tilfed made a le ven- ■-^''* 
tub. Mr. CoUingham was making a clothes-horfe. I pulled 
half the feathers out of the fewels, in order to make more. In 
the evening, I difcovered, with my glafs out of the window, fix 
deer at feed upon a hill on the High South Barrens : Mr. Col- 
lingham went after them, but could not get a fhot^ 

It drifted fmardy till ten o'clock, the reft of the day was pretty 
fine, but at fun-fet, it grew thick and began to fnow. Ther, 
7'' n* below o — s"* 1° — S*" o". 

Tilfed was employed on joiner's work : Mr. CoUingham, in -niurfifay sg. 
making the clothes-horfe. Three hands were fawing and '^^ ^- ^"'• 
cleaving firewood. I made three hundred yards of feweling. 
This being my birthday, I entered into my forty-eighth year. 

It fnowed in the morning, and drifted hard ail day. Then 
7'' 5® below 0—3'' 3" below 0—8'' 4" below o. 

Mr. CoUingham was at work on the clothes-horfe. Tilfed ^ni^y 94. 
(hot a gro'ufe, and made a bread-box. Three hands were cut- Jv- »'. /««. 
ting fewel-fticks. I made three hundred and fifty yards of 
fewels, which made up the complement of twelve hundred. 
At four this afternoon, I difcovered one herd of deer feeding "' '■^^'•^' 
on the north fide of Mount Martin; another, on this fide of 
Ibe High Barrens ; and a third.on.the Low South Barrens. 

It 



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136 THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

1 J^jj"" It drifted finartly in the morning, but abated gradually tiil 
rtbn«iy. two o'dock, when it ceafed ; a clear Dcy, with fmart froft all 
day. Ther. 7'' 5° below o — 3'' 7" — S' 2°. 

sumiy IS. ^^ fun-rife this morning, fifteen or twenty deer were feeding 
Jv. ir'/tji. on the weft end of Mount Martin ; foon after eight more 
crofled the harbour near the Small Duck Ifland, to the High 
Barrens; and fifteen others were feeding on the Illhmus. 
After breakfaft, Mr. Collingham went towards Burnt Knap, and 
there killed an old hind ; he .faw about an hundred. Three 
hands were felling firewood in Martin's Cove. , Tilfed was. at 
cooper's work till four o'clock, when I fent him after fome deer 
which I obferved going upon Slip Hill, but he could not get 
near them. I took a very fliort walk, but found the weather 
too fharp, and my eyes too bad for any dillant expedition. 
. A clear, Iharp day. Ther. 7* x° below o — 3'' 4° — &'• 1° 
below o. 

Swidi7 a6. -pijis morning we perceived two herds of deer feeding on the 
yiii. ' weft end of Mount Martin ; one of which ccntinued in fight of 
the houfe all day, but the other crofled the hill to the north fide, 
on fight of four of our people, whom we had fent for the deer 
which was killed yefterday. The inflammation in my eye is 
greatly abated, but the dimnefs ftill continues, and 1 am greatly 
afraid, that it will never entirely go off. 

A very fine day, though fliarp. Ther. 7'' 7° below o — s** 4 * 
8* 0*. 

Moniy >7. At uinc this morning, fourteen deer crofled the harbour for 

""^ the Cape-land : at the fame time we obferved, feveral others 

feeding upon the weft end of Mount Martin ; and another 

herd at the fame work upon the fouth part of the High Barrens. 

Mr. CoUiugbam went upon the Cape-land, and faw great num- 

bcn 



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Wini 
S.S.S., 

littu. 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. ' 137 

bcrs of deer there, but could not get a fliot at any. Tilfcd was 
at cooper's work, and three hands were felling firewood : at 
night, they brought home another fled-load of fewel-fticks. 
At eleven o'clock I walked along Slink Point, and from the 
third hill, faw three deer come down South-eaft Cove, and go 
upon Great Ifland ; I found them feeding there, and watched 
them until they lay down, near the farther end, when I crept 
up as near as X could, and, evening coming on, tried every de- 
vice.that I could think of, to decoy them to me, but they went 
off the contrary way, and I fired, at^above three hundred 
yards, without cfFeft. I did not get home till near dark, 
and even then with great difficulty ; being moft completely 
tired. Mr. Collingham was gone in fearch of me, fearing fome 
accident had happened ; and we miffed of each other, on account 
of my returning on the weft fide of Slink Point. I obferved. 
that a great many herds of deer had lately croffed the Point and 
Great Idand; moft of which were gone to the weftward, 
I had the pleafure to find myfelf free from fciatic pains, though 
very weak. The deer weighed a hundred and twenty-two 
pounds. 

The weather was quite warm to-day, by reafon that the fky 
was perfeflly clear, and there being but very little wind. Ther. 
7'' 7° below o — 3*" 3'> — 8^- 6°. 

After breakfaft we fent three hands to Weftern Tickle with Tuefday 28, 
the fewel-fticks, which they carried on a fled at three trips. Jj^j^^ 
Mr. Collingham, Tilfed, and I followed, and formed a pound w""^- 
with the fewels within the harbour; leaving the tickle open. 
At one o'clock Mr. Collingham went off for Venifon Head to 
drive deer into it; and at three, a herd of eighteen, chiefly 
hinds and calves (except a few young male deer which were 
among them) came from thence; and thefe were foon after 
followed by a herd of nine old flags. The firft herd pointed 
Vol. IlL T weU 



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>38 



1786. 

Febniarjr. 



March. 

Wedoef. I. 

Wmd 

E. y, E. 

hard. 



TbuH<b]r>. 

s. s. s. 



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S. S. E. 



Sitiird^4; 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

well for the tickle, but at length turned off, and croffed Great 
Ifland to South-eafl Covej but the flags came through the tic- 
kle into the pound. On perceiving the fewels, they were fliy at 
them; but two of our people rufhing from their hiding-places, to 
run the remainder of the fewels acrofs the tickle; when one of 
the flags, which Mr.CoUingham had fhot through the fmall-guts, 
dafhed under the fewels, which had no play for want of wind, 
and the reft followed him. I fired at about two hundred and 
fifty yards dillance, but miffed. We then took up the fewejs 
and returned home. • 
A dull, mild day. Then f 60—3" i6<»— 8^ 17*. 

Tilfed was at cooper's work, and three bands fawing up wood 
for the fires. 

It fnowed and drifted fmartly till near noon, when both 
ceafed, and a thin, wet fog came «n, which continued the reft 
of the day, with a free thaw. Several fmall fhowers of rain 
fell in the night. Then f 26"— 2^ 32"— ^^ 32*. 

The people were employed as yefterday. 
A thin, wet fc^ all day, with feveral fhort fhowers of rain; 
rather clearer at fun-fet. Then 7*" 32° — ^^ 34° — S*" 33^. 

The people were employed as on the two preceding days 
till the afternoon, when three of them beat a path from the fhore, 
to the wood which they had felled in Martin's Cove. A great 
deal of fnow is gone off the ground fince Wednefday morning. 

Dull till noon, when a dry fog came on, which cleared away 
and returned feveral times. Then y^ 32°— 3'' 34" — 8*1 33*. 

Mr, CoUingham was netting, Tilfed made a cap for the cage- 
traps. Three hands werei felling firewood in Martin's Cove. 

libwed 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 139 

I fawed fome cabbage, fpinach, lettuce, radiQi, onion, muftard, '■^"^^ — ' 
crefs, and fennel seeds in boxes, and placed them over the Mini. 
b(.anis in the dining-room, where it is almofl as hot as a h<^- 
buufe. 

1 he morning was pretty clear, but fog foon covered the tops 
of the hills, and at night it was very thick; thawing weather, 
Ther. f 30°—/ 34°— i"" 32^. 

William walked upon the hill, at the back of the houfe, and Sunday j. 
feeing from thence a filver-fox in Mr. CdUngham's firft trap in *• '*^' 
Blackguard Bay, be brought him home. 

The mofning was foggy, but the reft of the day proved ex- 
tremdy fine. Ther. 7'' 31° — 3'' 32° — V" 30*. 

Mr. Collingham went out this mwning in order to vifit his Mon^6. 
traps by Hare Harbour, but meeting with ten deer on Venifon ^-fi^* 
Head, he watched them all day, and in the evening got a fhot 
at a brace of old flags, which ftood fide by fide, and ftruck one 
of them, which feparated from the reft, and went off to fea upon 
the ice; he endeavoured to turn him back, but, not being able 
to head him, left him pointing for Tinker Rock. I fent Tilfed 
tp bring the two traps from Green Ifland, to try for the ftag 
which Mr. Collingham wounded on Tuefday laft, and to vifit 
the traps which were left tailed on the Cape-land. He could not 
find the ftag, but met with about thirty deer, yet could not get 
a ftiot at them. Crane went to the deathfall-path, (wought a 
marten and pn ermine, and (hot a fpruce-game. William and 
Tom hauled out fome of the wood in Martin's Cove to the 
ihore-fide. \ was violently affliQed with fciatic pains in my 
back, and down to my left heel, caufed by being affcfted with 
a cold wind, when in a flight pcrfpiration yefterday ; but an 
4^plicatioft of camphorated fpirits of wiitt made me' better by 
night. 

T? The 



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. 140 



Tuefday 7. 
N.iyB. 

fr'A 



Wednef. 8. 
5. Jmart. 



THE. SIXTH VOYAGE. 

The deer which Mr. Collingham faw to-day were all males,, 
and moft of them young hearts ; they had alh mewed, except 
one of three years old, which had one horn left. 

A delightful day out of the wind, but it drifted a little on 
Venifon Head. Ther. y.^fi5'* — 3^ 32** — S^ si*. 

Mr. Collingham taking four hands with himi went after the 
ftag which he Ihot yefterday, and found him dead upon the ice, 
about two miles from the north-eaft point of Venifon Head : his 
quarters weighed two hundred and twenty-one pounds. This 
mud have been a fine beall in September lad ; his fore foot 
meafured fix. inches acrofs, when the hoofs touched at the 
points; and the leg, cut off at the knee joint, with the foot to it, 
weighed three pounds and a quarter. My pains were much 
eafier to-day. and I find my eye is become a litde clearer. 

A dull day, with a fprinkling of fnow at intervals. Ther. 

yi. 200 2i^ 20° 8'' 16*. 

Mr. Collingham took Tilfed with him, and vifited his traps on 
Venifon Head, and thofe by Hare Harbour ; he had a crofs, 
and a white-fox, and the leg of a filver one ; two other traps 
were ftruck up. He obferved that fix deer, which went through 
Weftem Tickle to Venifon Head yeftefday, had returned the 
fame way this morning, and he faw about a dozen lying down 
upon the ice near Sadler's Ifland. He afterwards walked into 
the woods to look for oar-pieces, and found fome few. Three 
hands were hauling out wood in Martin's Cove. I was this 
morning feized with another violent fciatic fit, in my left hip 
and leg, which obliged me to keep my bed all day. The old 
buck-rabbit died to-day ; our ftock is now reduced to one 
young buck. 

The day was Cloudy, and the wind cutting, although it: did 
not freeze hard. Then j^ 14"— 3'' as*- — S^ 22*. 

Tilfed 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 



141 



Tilfed fearched the woods in Martin's Cove for oar-pieces, *< — ^ — » 
and found but two, Mr. Gillingham vifited his traps on the March. 
South Barrens, and fhot a fpruce-game. Three hands were '^^'^J's* 
hauling out wood in Martin's Cove. I was fo well to-day, as to s. t.frtfi, 
be able to fit up, but am in a very tickle ftate. The white-fox 
which Mr. CoUingham brought home yefterday, is the foiallefl; 
I ever faw, weighing but five pounds and a quarter. 

A dull, mild day, .ivith a little fmall fnow from three to four 
o'clock in the afternoon. Ther. f" 21° — '^ 29° — 8'' 27°. 



£. JV. £. 



Saturday ii. 
■f^rote. 



Mr. CoUingham walked the deathfall-path, but got nothing. 
Tilfed hewed and brought homq a fet of fkiiF-oars. . Three 
hands were hauling out wood in Martin's Cove. My pains 
much the fame as yefterday ; I therefore put a large blifter on 
my thigh, and one of a middling fize upon my leg. 

A dull, mild day, with a little fnow at times, and feems 
likely for more. Ther. y*" 26° — 3^ 30° — %^ 30P. 

Tilfed cut and hewed another fet of fkiff-oars. Three hands 
felled firewood in Martin's Cove. My blifters operate pretty 
finartly, and my pains have abated. 

A dull, mild day, withfome fnow in the forenoon. The 
poor deer will pay for this mild weather, when the froft returns, 
for then they will be greatly diftreffed for want of food; as all 
the herbage will be frozen into the fnow. Ther. 7*" 30° — 
gh 33»_8'' 34». ' 

A dun, thawing day, with fome fnow in the morning, and Sund»y ra. 
thin fog in the evening, when it began to freeze again. Ther. ^^■ 
t 32"— S*" 34— 8'^ 30^ "^ 

Mr, CoUingham went a fhooting this morning, and, from the Monday 13. 
lUHTth-eall end of Slink Point, difcovered thirteen deer, which ^>^/' 



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i^s THE SIXTH VOYACE. 

*— r^^ — I came dcfwn Soath-eaft Cove, and were gone upon the fouth- 
Marct. -w^eft end of Great Ifland, where he was near getting a (hot,' 
when they went upon the ice on Blackguard Bay, and divided ; 
'fix going to the outward point of Venifon Head, and feven up- 
on Berry Hill. He followed the latter, and killed a calf; and 
fired two Ihots at a hind, but mifled her both times. He then 
went after the others, and, on the north-weft part of the head, 
killfed an old hind. He faw a white-fox in a trap on Great Ifland 
and left him. At noon, thofe deer which went upon Berry 
Hill, crofsed Slink Point and went up this harbour, not far 
from the houfe.; and at five o'clock the other five came into 
White Cove, where they flopped fome time, and then, turning 
downwards, palTed through Weftern Tickle and returned up 
SbutTi-eaft Cove. Tilfed hewed out another fet df fkifF-oars. 
Three hands were felling firewood in Martin's Cove ; they law 
the tracks of a brace of wolves, which had crofled this neck not 
^Mi, far from the houfe, and were gone over to the Cape-land. My 
pains have abated, and my eye is better to,-day. 

A dull, mild day, with frequent (howers of fnow, which 
drifted a little on the barrens. Then 7*" 27" — ^ 29°— y*" 25". 

Tudaay 14. At fcvcn this morning I fent Tilfed to Vifit Mr. Collingham's 
' ^' ''"''' traps on Venifon Head; and three hands with a Ilcd to bring 
home the deer; both of which proved very poor: the hind 
weighed a hundred and twenty-four pounds and an half, and 
the calf, fixty-two pounds and an half. Mr. Collingham went 
to the eaflern traps, and tailed them afrefh; two wolves had 
been round thofe two which were tailed by a deer's paunch, 
but were fhy at them. He faw the frefh feeding of fome deer^ 
and met with five flags, but could not get a (hot at them; Ifwo of 
them had not mewed, Tilfed returned at dark with the white- 
fox, and the horn Of a flag which dropped off on his firing at 

him;. 



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frmt. 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

him; he had but that one, and was in company with three 
others on the weft fide of Venifon Head ; one of which had 
both his horns, but the other two had mewed. 

A cloudy, mild day; in the evening it rained a little. Ther. 
ff. 26°— 3' 36°— S' 28°. 

Tilfed was employed on cooper's work, and three hands were 
felling firewood in Martin's Cove. 

It fnowed, with drift lad night, and a little this morning; but 
the reft of the day was clear, with fevere froft. Ther. ff" vof 
below o — 3'' 6" below o — S"* 7" below o. 

Tilfed was engaged as yefterday. Three hands were hauling ]!^l!^' 
out wood in Martin's Cove. In the afternooQ Mr. CoUinghan} 
vilited his traps on the South Barrens, but got nothing. Finding 
that we have now a hundred and forty-four pieces of venifon . 
left, we determined tliat no other meat (hall be dreffed whilft 
any of it remains; as by that titne, we riiay expeft mild weather moJtrtui . 
to fet in. Our lervants have had venifon four days a week , 
until yellerday fe'nnight, fince which time' they have hjid it 
'every day ; but we have had it every day all the winter through. . 

A clear, (harp day. Ther. 6*"6*' belowo — 3'' lo'^^-S'' 7*. 

At eight o'clock this morning wc lent Tilfed to Muddy Bay^ Tt)4»y i?.-. 
with a letter to captain Gabourit. , Finding that none of the I"""*** - 
feeds which I lowed in the boxes came up, and that the earth . 

was too fad, I mixed as much alhes and foot as made it per- 
fetUy light, and fowed them afrefli. 

Mr. CoUtngham went over to the Cape-land a deer-Ihooting; ■ 
he faw forty-fiye hinds and calves in different herds; killed an ugifiru,. 
old hind, wounded another, and milled a. third. Three hands 
were hauling out firewood... 

HulLi 



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143 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 



Suuidiy 18. 

Jt.h£. 

Jr-ijk. 



, — * — \ Dull till noon, but the reft of the day was clear. Ther, 

-Mwch. & 12* — ^ 22* — S"" iS". . 

At fevcn this morning, we fent three hands with a fled for 
the deer, which lay by the Gravel Hills, and they returned with 
her at noon ; ftie proved a very good one, and muft have been 
a capital beaft when at her'beft; as her quarters weighed a 
hundred and fifty pounds. Some ravens had eaten part of her 
haunches, and her guts were carried away. The people faw a 
brace of deer as they went, and on their return, met four old 
flags in South-eaft Cove ; Crane fired at one of them, but miffed. 
They cut up firewood during the reft of the day. Mr.Colling- 
ham went upon Venifon Head, looked at fome of his traps in 
that walk, but got nothing. I am now much better of my com- 
plaints, but not well enough to venture out of doors. 

UpcBi the whole, this was a fine day j though, we had a little 
fnow in the forenoon. Ther. & 16" — ^3** 24* — 8*' 18*. 



Suodajr ig. j^t two o'clock this aftcrnoon, Tilfed returned from Muddy 
.« trau. Bay ; accompanied by captain Gabourit and one of his people. 
s.miitut. A very fine, mild day. Ther. 6^ ly" — ^^ 26" — 8^ 24°. 



Moaitya: 



Mr. Collingham went with captain Gabourit and his man 
round Mount Martin to try for deer ; they faw fourteen ftags, 
but could not get near them. Finding myfelf much better to- 
day, I walked ^ong Sfink Point and ftruck up the double- 
fpring trap, but could not find that which I tailed for a hare. 
From the fecond hill, I faw a brace of deer feeding upon Hun- 
tingdon Ifland ; they were diftant feven miles from me. Tilfed 
was hewing oars, and three hands were hauling out firewood. 
Dull weather, with a little fnow till noon; fair, but cloudy 
afterwards. Ther. & ^4* — ^3'' 26** — S"" 21°. 



After 



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/"A 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

After breakfaft, captain Gabourit fet ofiF homewards, and we 
loaded his fled with venifon. Mr. Ck>llingbam went to Table 
Bay Brook, where he faw the tracks of fome white-bears and 
otters ■ he returned along the deathfall-path, and brought an 
ermine and a fpruce-game. Tilfed hnifhed hewing all the oars. 
Three hands were felling firewood in Martin's Cove. 1 took a 
walk along Slink Point, and had the pleafure to 6nd myfelf 
much better. 

A very fine day, but in the evening it overcaft. Ther. & 18" 
—3' 28°— B' s8". 

Tilfed vifited Mr. Collingham's traps in the well walk, and 
brought a raven and a crois-fox ; the latter had loft a leg in one 
of the traps fometime lince. Three hands were fawing up fire- 
wood till noon, after which they trod a path to the wood, which 
they had lately felled. J^-. 

■ A very fine day, but it overcaft in the evening. Ther. &^ 
■ib°—t 32'^8'' 30*. 

Tilfed was engaged on cooper's w(X)k, and the other people xhuritUy 23. 
were varioufly employed about the houfe. ^- '*^''' 

It fnowed and drifted fmartiy till ten this morning, after 
which, we had fome heavy fhowers of rain. Ther. & 30" — ■^'^' 
•^ 3a" — ^ 32'. 



Wedjirf. ss. 
jmctn. 



Mr. CoUingham took a walk upon Great Ifland, but faw 
nothing; he obferved that the ice was broken up within the 
outermoft Gannet Iflands. Crane walked the deathfall-path, 
and brought a marten. Tilfed at cooper's work-. Two hands 
were felling firewood. I took a walk to the head of Martin's 
Cove. 

Dull till noon, and bowed afterwards; mild weather. 
Ther. 6' 300— 3' 32° — S* 32*. 

Vol. m. U Tilfed 



S. £. Jmtn. 



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»46 THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

'~\^iy' Tilf^d was employed as yefterday. Three hgnds were 
Mstck, hauling out firewood m Martin's Cove till ten o'clock, when 

'*«!('' W'"'*'" '^""'^ home, having bruifed his left arm in loading the 
*i*. fled. 

Small fnow all day. Ther. 6* 30° — s' 32° — S' 31*. 

Siinfar.6. This morning aB the ground, which was bare before, was 
covered with fnow, but the day being clear and mild, a good 
K.eui>. deal of it was gone by night. Ther. 6' 3i«— 31' 34° — 8' 31°. 

Monbjr a?. Mr. Collingham went over to the Cape-land this morning a 
"j^,!^' deer-lhooting, where he met with great numbers ; he killed an 
okL hind, wounded another, and milled a third. William 
walked the deathfall-path, but got nothing. Tilfed was draw- 
ing oars. Crane and Tom were felling firewood. I took a 
walk iipon SUnk Point, but foon returned, as the drift flew toa 
^^,. fmartly for me to continue out 

A very fine day upon the whole, but we had a fmart flurry 
of wind from ten to eleven o'clock. Ther. 6'' 30° — 31" 37" 
—8^31°. 

Tuethy .s. At ftven this morning we fent four hands, with a fled for 
the deer, and they returned with her at noon. Some foxes- 
had eaten at leall three pounds out of her haunches : and a 
brace of wolves had come from Ledge Ifland, and pafled not 
fer from her. Her quarters weighed a hundred and fbrty-feven 
pounds ; (he had a remarkable fine pair of horns + of twenty- 
one points. The people few a brace of deercrofs this harbour 
from Slip Hill, as they returned. We jerked the two rounds 
, of this deer. 

A bright, fine day. Ther. 6' 23'— a' 28°— 8' 22*. 

JSfei 
t TbcTe are now U Kbrnbam. 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

Mr. Coflingham walked the deathfall-path, wher* he 6w the 
fign of one marten, but got nothing. Tilfed was drawing oars, 
' and three hands were hauling out firewood in Martin's Gove. 
We took down the Hove j cleaned, and fet it up again. 

Cloudy till nine this morning, the reft of the day was clear. a.^«i, 
Ther. 5'* 16" — f" 25" — S"* 19°. 

Mr. Collingham went a deer-fliooting to Vcnifon Head, Thuriaiygo, 
and I walked out upon Slink Point, from whence I foon djf- "' *' ""*' 
covered a brace of llags croffing the ice from Great liland to 
Venifon Head. I went to the firft Pigeon Rock to wait their 
return, and immediately law five other deer feeding on the 
fouth-weft point of South-eaft Cove: at noon they crofled the 
cove, and lay down upon the ice, between the north-weft point 
and Great Ifland. I then dtfcovercd, from FlagftalFHiH, another '' **' 
herd' of about fifteen lying down upon the ice in South-eaft 
Cove. I retnained thore watching them till after one o'clock, 
at which time, finding myfelf very cold, and feeling a ftiarp 
return of my fciatic pains, I returned home and went to bed; 
ordering Tilfcd to take my doable-barrd gun, which I had 
left on 'Pigeon Rock, and to go after the deer. At three o'clock 
Mr. Collingham retnrned, driving a crip[^ed ftag before him: 
when the deer had got through the firft break in Slink Point, 
which is about three hundred yards from the houfe, being tired, 
he became peftiff, and woold- be di-iven no farther, but turned 
Tomid, and made fuch a defperate longe at Collingham, thift he 
had no other way of avoiding the blow, than by throwing him- 
felf down fide-waysj the deer wen< over his legs with fuch 
violence, that he could nW flop himfctf till he had {afled him 
fcvetU yards. He then aXted out for ^tftance, and I imme- 
diately fent Jack with the dogs : after a fharp conteft, in which 
the tog defetided hijafeH" with grdat Rifohitidn; both iWith his 
Heid and his feet, they piflled hito down; he vlrould haive 
U 2 beat 



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J48 THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

* — ^ — . beat them all, had not one of his fore legs been broken. As foon 
Much. as Mr. CoIIingham got upon Berrv Hill this morning, he di(- 
covered eight deer lying down on the low ground, and at 
length got a (hot at a brace, and broke a leg of each ; the other 
was a hind, which went out upon the ice towards Round IQand. 
He fent Jack after Tilfed, with orders for them to look for, 
and drive the hind home. They returned at half paft feven 
o'clock, when Tilfed reported, that when he got to the end of 
Slink Point, he faw four deer upon Flagftaff Hill, where I had 
fat fo long, and that five others went through Weftem Tickle at 
the fame time ; that he faw nothing of the wounded deer, but 
met with eight on Round IQand, where he fired twice at them, 
killed one, and ftruck another. After paunching the deer, he 
went after the reft, and got another double fliot at them, but 
mifled both times. He then followed his wounded deer to the 
fouth-wcft point of Southaeaft Cove, and, there quitting the 
flot of her, returned home. He faw five other herds of deer 
by the way. 

The flag which was killed to-day, had put out his new horns? 
they are about an inch long, and the firft which we have 
leen this year. It is a matter of curiofity and furprife, that the 
male rein-deer fhould fo foon lofe their horns after they come 
to perfection; and that Nature fliould deprive them of the means 
of defence, at the very time they appear moft to (land in need of 
them, to defend themfelves from the wolves; and that it (hould 
be fo long before the new ones appear. As they can fwim 
fafter and longer, than, I believe, any other land animal; and 
all the different countries in which they are found, being full of 
ponds and rivers, they preferve themfelves in fummer from the 
ravenous jaws of the wolves by taking the water .Did they not 
mew till April,, they would then not only oftentimes find water 
Co fly to, but the bitch wolves being at that feafon big with 

whelp,, 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. J49 

whelp, the dogs weak, and the fnow very rotten, they would '"T'Jj — > 
then not be in lb much danger, as between December and that MvdC 
time. 

Three hands were hauling out firewood in Martin's Cove. 
A very firie day. Ther. 3'» 14° — ^3'' 23° — S*" 17*. 

Early this morning, I fent three hands with a fled for Tilfed's f*'"!' «■• 
deer ; and ordered him to follow the one which he wounded, jt^'b. 
When he got to the place where he quitted her flot yefterday, 
he hit olF the flot of Mr. CoUingham's hind, and got fight of her 
at the foot of the High Barrens ; from whence he followed her 
acrofs the harbour and South Barrens, almoft to Table Bay, ■ 
where he got a fliot and killed her. On the fouth fide of Slip 
Hill, he diflurbed a brace of wolves, which were picking the 
bones of a young deer, that they had killed. Soon after his 
return, he went out again ; took the flot of his own deer, and 
followed her to the valley, on the call fide of Burnt Knap, 
" where the blood (lanching, he could not make her out any far- 
ther, as flie had not quitted the herd. Mr. Collingham went 
out after Jiis deer, and Hotted her from the place where he left 
her yefterday, to the South Barrens, from whence he returned 
home, obferving that Tilfed iluck to her. Looking out of the 
window, as foon as I got up this morning, I faw fix deer going 
up the harbour; and foon after, obferved thirteen more feeding 
on the Ilthmus. Jack coming in from the well at the fame 
time, faw nine crolfing the lower part of the harbour. At noon 
another herd of feven came oflF the High Barrens, and walked ■ 
upwards. The people who were going for the dead deer, faw 
two on Great Ifland ; Mr. Collingham obferved a herd feeding 
on Venifon Head, and Tilfed faw ten in South-eall Cove, the 
fecond time he went out. The flag weighed a hundred and 
feventy-three pounds and an half ; and the hind, a hundred. 

and tliirty-three pounds, 

A-fcvft 



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I50 THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

I — l^ir"" A Few Ihort, thin (howers of fnow fell in the morning, but 
April. the rell'of the day was fair, with broken clouds and Qiarp froft. 
Ther. 5>- S"— 3' 20°— S' 14°. 

Sitordir 1. I fent four hands this morning, with flings for the deer, and 
s^^k ^^y returned with her at one o'clock; Ihe weighed a hundred 
and feven. pounds. They alfo brought a marten out of the death- 
*• '• fall path. At two o'clock one of the Canadians came here from 
jf ji. . Muddy Bay, with a new Mountaineer fled, a pair of rackets, 
^"*- and a pair of racket-bows; being preients frem captain Ga- 
bourit to me. I was lb bad today, that I did not get up till 
ten o'clock, and then was obliged to return to bed again imme- 
diately : being rather better at three in the afteriraon I got up a 
fecond time. Two hands fawing up firewood in the afternoon. 

Cloudy till four in the afternoon, and fnow the remainder 
of the day. Ther. 5' n° — 3' 25°— 8' 24". 

Saodiy «. At eleven o'clock this morning, with the help of my glafs, 
"jbLl.' ' difcovered nine deer feeding on the point of the High Bar- 
rens : the Canadian and Tilfed went after them, and the formei 
got a long Ihot but mifled. I was rather better to-day. 

It drifted hard in the early part of the morning, and fmartly 
on the barrens all day ; the tky was clear till live in the after- 
*"'^' noon, when it came on to fnow and drift very much. Ther. 
^i" 12° — 3' 24° — 8' 16°. 

Moneys. The people were fawing up firewood and doing other things 
i.ri ' about the houfe. In the afternoon nine deer came off the High 
Barrens ; fix of which crolTed to the South Barrens, atrd the 
other three pointed for our houfe. Tilfed weift to the Saddte, 
whilft Mr. CoUingham and I waited for them at the path-end, 
but when they came within two hundred yards' of us, the old, 
leading hind winded the houfe, and turned down the har- 
bour; 



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^mg. 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 151 

bour ; we both fired at her but milled ; on which they turned r^"^ — » 
back again. Apc^> 

The drift flew very thick all day ; it fnowed till nine in the 
morning, then was clear till Gx in the evening, when it fnow- 
ed again. Ther. 5'' 11" — 3'' 14° — S** 14*. 

Our people were working for themfelves to-day. TueHay 4. 

It blew hard with fmall, drifting fnow and {harp froft, the n.^^rd. 
whole of laft night and this day, but in the evening it abated 
fomewhat. Ther. ^ 10° — s*" i8« — S*" 18°. 

Tilfed made fomc tent-pegs in the forenoon: the reft of Wednof. 5. 
the people were working for themfelves. 

Continual fnow and drift all laft night and this day, with 
mild weather. Ther. ^ 25° — 3'' 23** — S** 20°. 

In tlie morning and evening it cleared up fulEciently for us ThuriaayS. 
to fee acrofs the harbour, but during the reft of the day, it i^a^ 
fnowed faft in fmall flakes, with mild weather. Ther. ^ 18* 
— ^ S^" — S*" 26*. 

It continued fnowing ^I this day alfo, with mild weather, Fridi^y. 
and in the evening it drifted fraartly. Ther. 5'' 26** — ^ 31" — t^./rtfl. 

gh 24'='— S*" 20*. 

At fix this morning, twelve deer came through the firft' break Stmrdij- Sj . 
in Slink Point, and crofted the harbour towards Mount Martin. I!£u*'. 
The people were employed in (awing up firewood, and in doing 
other things about the houfe. 

In the morning it Ihowed a little, the reft of the day was *** 
foggy, which cleared away ia the eveningj but the fls.y continued 
cioudy* Tiiei". 5^ a2"— 3^39^ — S"" a6°. 

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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 



Monda^r to. 
I.S.E. 

fiiari. 



TueCUy ii 
N./mari, 



Wednef. ■» 
Jmart. 



Tbnrfl^iS* 



The Canadian fet off homewards this morning. 

The weather was foggy till noon, with fmall fnow at times, 
clearing a little between whiles, it rained all the afternoon; 
which wetted the fnow, and made it bad walking. Ther. 5'' 24" 
_3h 33.^8'> 33°. 

The people picked oakum, and did other trifling work. Our 
well hashuld water all the winter, but for fome time pafl: it has 
tafted very muddy, although the water is clear. To-day we 
laded up water by ihe fhore-fide, for the firft time. 

Much rain fell lafl night and this morning, but at eleven 
o'clock it turned to fnow; that ceafed at three in the after- 
noon, and there was a thin fog over-head, for the remainder of 
the day. Ther. 5b 34° —s"" 34°- B^ 34'- 

Tilfed was drawing oars, William and Tom were fawing up 
firewood, and Crane vifited the deathfall-path, and a few of 
the traps ; he brought in a marten and a trace-galled crofs-fox. 

A dull day, with llight froa. Ther. 5^ 31°— 3*- 28" — 8"" 

2f. 

Tilfed was drawing oars ; the reft of the people were pick- 
ing oakum in the morning, and fawing up firewood in the 
afternoon. 

It fijowed hard the fore part of the morning, and was hazy 
and dull during the reft of the day, with fome fun at intervals. 
Then 5^ 28"— s"' 32»— S*" 25". 

Mr. Collingham went a (hooting to Mount Martin; he faw 
thirteen deer in one herd, and fix in another; and fired two 
fhots, but milled both times. Tilfed vifited the traps towards 
Hare Harbour, and found diem all frozen to the ground. He 
law two herds of deer, of eleven head each, upon Venilbn 

Head; 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. jjg 

Head; one of which went out to fea, andtheedier through i _ J^ i 
Weftern Tickle up South-eaft Cove. I took a walk to the Apa. 
extremity of Slink Point, where I fat a Ihott time, and had not j^wji w. 
left it long before the lad mentioned herd paSed through the 
lickle. We all three law the tracks of a brace of ftout wcdvea, 
which had gone from the Cape-land to Hare Harbour this 
morning. Three hands threw the fnow out of the fliallop, and 
chopped fome of the ice out of her; but the water coming in 
through the fcuttle-hole, obliged them to defift. 
A veiy fine day. Ther. g' 19" — ^ 36° — 8'' 36,. 

AH hands were chopping ihe ice out of the ihaUop till noon, ^, 
-wiien they were obliged to defiQ, as the water came in upon jr. w. h ir. 
them too faft to keep her free with the pump. We IhaU not ^^' 
therefore he able to get her upon the ice, as we were in hopes 
4>f doing. In the ifteaxion Mr. Collingham and Tilfed cutout "J^ ' 
A new fore-fail for the Ihallop, and the latter made part of it 
Thiee hands dug a trench through the fnow, from the ihed 
door to the Ihore, and chopped fome of the ice out of the ihed. 
I took a walk to the lecond break in Slink Point, and tailed two 
traps there for wolves. The outer part of Table Bay was ftee 
from ice yefterday, and today I faw a good deal of water in 
the ofiing to the north-eaft. 

Clear till four o'clock, when it grew hazy, and at feven 
it fnowed a little. Ther. ^ 32° — 3i> 38* — 8* 22°. 

Tilfed was at work on the Foot's Ibre-fail, and the other three s«imu, ij. 
lands were picking oakum. «■ h '■ 

It Ihowed and drifted hard all lafinight, and till nine this morn- 
ing, when it ceafed fnowing, and the fun appeared, but the drift 
continued for the remainder of the day, and in the evening it " 
fnowed again. Hard froftall day. Ther. 5' 14° — 3' 16° — 8' 15' 



^me 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

In the evening I faw a brace of deer feeding upon the High 
Barrens. 

It fnowed a little, and drifted hard till about three in the 
afternoon, the wind then died away, and the fky cleared. Ther. 
jii 20° — 3'- 31° — 8'" 28°. 

Tilfed was at work on the Fox's new fore-fail, and the other 
three hands were hauling wood out upon the ice, from the 
piles at the head of- Martin's Cove, to be ready to make into 
rafts. Between nine and ten this morning, fix deer crofled 
the harbour from the High Barrens to the Ifland Rock of Spit 
Point, where they fed a little, and then, went back again; 
having winded the houfe. At one o'clock a herd of feven ap- 
peared on the upper part of the harbour; two of which went 
upon the High Barrens, and the reft crofied Slink Point at the 
iecond break. At the fame time another herd of eight, were 
obferved lying down upon the ice, near the Duck Iflands; 
having winded the houfe. At five they got up, and walked 
down the harbour. 

A cloudy day, with fome fun and light Ihowers of fnow by 
turns, and a frofty air. Ther. 5'' 28° — 3'' 320—8'; 26°. 

Tadb, i8. Mr. Collingham and Tilfed cut out a new main-fail for the 

Kjirmj. Fox, and Tilfed made part of it, after finilhing the fore-iail. 

Three hands were hauling firewood out upon the ice ftom the 

piles in Martin's Cove. At noon Mr. Collingham walked the 

„tn-tt, deathfiill-path, and Ihot a fpruce-game. 

A thin haze aloft, with much drift till the evening, which 
proved fine; fliarp froft. Ther. s' is"— 3' 2S»— 8' 22°. 

WcJiitr. 19. All our people being troubled with a breaking-out, not uo- 

"^ like the itch, we gave them a fmart dofe of falts this morning, 

and are in hopes that it is only a heat of blood, bom eating fo 

much 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 155 

much venifon of late; for I verily believe, that they have eaten < — TmT^ 
not lels than five pounds each man, every day, fince the pork- AprU. 
barrel was fhut up. Tilfed worked upon the new main-fail, 
and the other three hands dug a trench in the fnow round the 
flied, to prevent the dogs getting upon the roof of the houfe. ^ ^'^^ 
After breakfaft Mr. CoUingham went to Venifon Head, and I 
to Weftern Tickle. In our way we faw fix deer go from Great 
Ifiand, up South-eafl: Cove. At two o'clock I came home, and 
foon after three Mr. CoUingham returned likewife, and in- 
formed me that he met with eleven deer upon the head, and 
had wounded one ror two of them, and that the whole were 
then lying down upon the ice in Blackguard Bay near the 
tickle. We took Tilfed and William with us and went after ^- *^' 
them : the former made a circuit, and crofied Great Ifland in 
order to drive them to us, who were pofted at the pafics ; but, 
having before been clofe up to the outer Pigeon Rock where 
I had been fitting, and having winded my gown, they took a 
fwcep round Tilfed, and pafled by the north-eaft end of Great 
Ifland towards Curlew Harbour. 

A very fine day ; {harp froft in the morning but thawed free- 
ly afterwards. Ther. g*" 13° — ^3'' 36" — 8*" 40*. 

Tilfed was working on the new main-fail, and the other Thoiay «o. 
people were hauling firewood out upon the ice in Martin's ^- "**'*"• 
Cove till four in the afternoon ; they then came home and dug 
part of the trench deeper by the fide of the fhed. In the 
morning Mr. CoUingham took a walk along Slink Point, and 
faw a herd of about a dozen deer, feeding upon the ifthmus. 
In the afternoon, another herd were lying down upon the ice 
in the-Cove under the High Barrens. At one this afternoon 
two Canadians came here with a letter from Capt. Gabourit. 

A vety-fine day though cold in the wind. ' Ther. 5 32° — 

3^ 39'— fifc 32^ 

X 2 TUfed 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

Tilfed fimfiKd die new ihain-fail, ill but roping. Three- 
hands were faauling firewood out upon the ice till two o'clock. 
After breakfaft, Mr. CoUingham and the Camdians went over 
U> the Cape-land a deer-fltooting; they faw many, but did not 
get a Ihot. 

A very 6ae, dear day. Ther. 5' 31"— j* 46° — S' 36°. 

s««id^ ••• Early this morning, the Canadians went away, and we gave 
'^^ them as naich venifon as they would carry. At ten o'clock, 
leven old lla§s walked up the harbour towards the ifthmus v 
one of which parted from the reft, turned to the weftward, 
and croSed out of Martin's. Cove to Seydes's Beach, from 
whence he went to Venifon Head; he appeared to have beett 
>urt?' much frightened. Soon after, two hinds and calves came off 
the High Barrens, and one brace of them crofied to Spit Point* 
Tilfed was employed on cooper'» work, and the reft of the 
people were hauling more firewood oat upon the ice tiSthe 
afternoon, when they came home and lawed up fome for the 
fires 

A dull morning, it rained from feven tiU nine o'clock,, and 
fnowed moft part of the reft of the day; in the evening it 
came on to freeze. Ther. 5' 46° — 3' 32° — 8' 2&°-. 

I took a Qiort walk along Slink Point this morning, and, with- 
my glals, dilcovered a. brace of deer feeding near Gready'& 
Jealing-poft. We gave our people another dofe of falts tbii 
morning. WiHiam killed a brace of ptarmigans near the 
houfe; at noon he took a walk to Table Bay, and brought 
the foot of a Giver, or ao& fox out of one of the traps there. 
In the evenit^, a brace of deer cn^d from Great Illaud int» 
fouih-eall Cove. 

The fore part of the day was. cloudy,. and the latter dull- 

Ther. 5' 20"— a' 31°— 8' 28".. 

Mr.. 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. Ij; 

Mr. OoUinj^m went to the High Barrens, where he met •"rjj — > 
wkhnumbere of deep, and fired at three hinds; he knocked Aprs' 
a horn off (UK of them, but miffed the other two. Tilfed '*^' '*• 
w«nt into the woods in fearch of (faallop's oar-pieces ; he felled ". ■<!iU», 
twO) and hewed out one of them. Three hands were hauling p,*^ u 
out firewood in Martin's Cove, till ten o'clock, and then began ' ^' 
upon the frame of a rait, which they compleated. Fif^en 
deer, in fmatl companies, were palling and repafling the har- 
bour in diflerent places moft part of the day. At four o'clock 
1 fent Tilfed after four, which I obferved going upon Great 
Wand, but when he got to the tickle, they had crofTed Black- 
guard Bay and were juft landed upon Venilbn Head. I waS- 
writing all day. 

Cloudy weather. Ther. j' 24' — 3' 33° — 8' 30'. 

The people loaded one raft to-day, and Tilfed unfortunate- '^'^j^^' 
ly cut his leg very much with. his hatchet. I was writing till j^.' 
dinner. 

The thaws which we had in the winter, have turned the fijinw 
to ice in fuch manner, that it goes off but flowly j and the deer 
are grown very poor, by not being able to get at mu^ food-. 
The wind hangs fo much . to the northward, that the thaws 
now are not fo free as uiiiaiat this time of the year. The ice 
on this harbour is yet of great thickne&, 

We had a great variety of weather thefc laft twenty-four 
hours : for it rained, hard all laft night, then came on a filver 
thaw, after that fmall rain, then hail, and inxhe evening fiiow. 
Ther. 5' 31°'— 3' 34°— 8' 3°°- 

It fnowed idl day, which prevented any work being done, 
and in the eveniag; it turned to rain. Ther. 5' 30H— 3* 32* — 

Tilfed 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

Tilfed made a vane and truck for a flagftafij and caft Tome 
balls. Three hands made another raft-frame, and loaded part 
of it. Finding that none of the feeds, which I fowed in the 
boxes, would grow in the houfe, I fowed more, and fet the 
boxes out of doors ; covering them in the evening with a mat. 

Cloudy in the morning, but the reft of the day was clear with 
^^- a free thaw. Ther. s^ 31- —s"- 410—8'' 320. 

Friaar «p. ^' eight this morning, Mr. CoUingham went to Venifon Head, 
«w5» and I walked to Weftern Tickle. He foon met with one herd 
„^ of eleven, and another of fourteen deer, but could not get a 
*J^^' fliot at any of them; the latter went off acrofs the faddle on 
the South Hare Ifland, which is a very famous croffing-place 
for them, and the former -came as well as poflibie for me, till 
a flaw of wind gave them the fcent of me at about five hun- 
dred yards diflance, when they turned off apd croffed Great 
Ifland. I endeavoured to waylay them at the fandy beach, but 
they came down upon the ice, beyond the north-eaft end of 
it, and went up South-eaft Cove. I -fired at them, at four hun- 
dred yards, but without any other effeft, than caufing them 
to mend their pace, I faw an eagle of laft year, and a few 
fiiow-birds; they are the firfl; that have been feen this fea- 
fon. Tilfed was calling balls and jiggers. Three hands hauled 
out more firewood, and laid it upon the raft. Ten of the 
deer, which I faw to-day, were males ; (two of them ftout ftags) 
and they had all put out their new heads ; the other was a 
hind. 
A very fine day. Ther. 5'' 30" — 3'' 430 — S*" 330. 

Suuiday «9. The people were employed to-day in cutting a drain from 

i.E./mart, ^^ flied-door to the fliore, to carry off the water, and in other 

neceflary work about the houfe ; as the weather wdidd not 

permit them to go on with the raft. I never faw more fnow 

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THE SIXTH yOYAGE. 

on the hills and barren grounds in any part of former winters, 
than there is at this time. We have now but twelve pieces of 
venifon left, and they are atmoft grown taftelefs becaufe the 
juices are run out; yet they are perfe£Hy free from putri- 
fa3ion. 

Rain with thick fog. Then 5'' 33*— a*- 36 — S*" 34', 

Three faddlebacks appeared this morning, which are the Sunday 8*>' 
firft that have been feen this fpring. There was great plenty ^-f'^' 
' of groufe and ptarmigans on Slink Point to-day, and William ft' Js. tt*^. 
killed three of the latter. 

A dull, foggy day. Then 5** 34" — -^ 35' — 9^ 34*^ 

Mr. Collingham fowed fome garden-feeds in two tubs. Til- Ua^' i 
fed hewed out fome hatchet-helves, made fome trunnels, and jv: e. uau. 
began a couple of gafis for the Fox. Three hands cleared 
out the path from the (hed-door, and threw the fnow off a n, n. e. 
fmall fpot of ground in front of the houfe, where we intend 
making a garden. I \vas netting mod part- of the day. We 
began to give our people pork again. 

Foggy allday; the foie part thin, the Utter thick. Then 5** 340 

Mr. Collingham and I executed our articles of co-partner- TueOay ». 
fbip this day, (which we agreed fhould commence from the 
firft day of May 1785; in order that he might bear his fhare * 
of the expcnces which I had been at in England, in making ^'f<' &<'''*• 
preparations for thebufinefs) and they are to continue in force 
until the tenth day of September in the year of our Lord 
1788. 

The people were picking oakum, not being able to do any 
thing out of doors, for it fnowed and drifted bard» with a 
flight froft. Then 5^- 34*' —3'' 39°— g** 27*. 

At 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGS. 

At fev^n this morning Mr. Collinglum taUqg four hands 
with him, went to Gready's fealing-poll, and brought an old, 
(bur-oared fakuon-puQt from tbooce, which l>*d lain there feven 
years. Tilfed wa$ repairing her during the reft pf the 4ay, apd 
the other people hauled out Tome more firewood to the raft. 
I was netting till the evening, when I tool^ « w^lk to the rafts. 
No water to be feen at fea to-day, 

A Diarp morning, but the reft of the day was very fine. 
Ther. ji- 21°^ 33*— 9* 27*- 

At feven this morning Mr. Collingham l^gok' three hands with 
him and went to Table Bay, to throw the fnpw from off the 
rubbingplaces, and ftrike up the traps in the deathfall-path. 
At eight I fent Tilled out to try for a deer, and foBowed foon 
after myfelf. From the hill at the extremity of Slink Point I 
difcovered five deer upon the ice going towards Leveret 
Ifland, and immediately after, a brace of flags on the ice at the 
north-eafl endof Venifon Head, which Tilfed had driven from 
thence. On arriving at the firft Pigeon Rock, 1 perceived them 
pointing for me, and Tilled behind them; but they fet off 
full gatlcp, and went upon Venilbn Head again. At .eleven 
o'clock feven male-deer came upon Blackguard Bay from the 
fouth end of Venifon Head, and made for Wcftern Tickle; 
through which they would have palTed, but 1 fired at them, at 
upwards of two hundred yards diftance : then they turned 
up tlie bay, crofled Slink Point at tlie fecoad break, and went 
towards the ifthmus. Five other -male-ifeer came from the 
fame place, pafled through the above break, and went fiom 
thence up Southrcaft Cove. Mr. CoUingham returned at three 
o'clock, and brought a marten. He found one rubbingplace, 
tailed a couple of traps upon it, and broke another in tailing it. 
He faw a pair of black-ducks in the brook of Table Bay, and 
William Ihot three fpruce-game. One of the trapt had been 
-V carried 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGi:. i6i 

carried out of the 4eatbfiill-patht wid was loft. TUfed killed a i"— ^7— i 

ire »'**■ 

brace or groufe. Ma7. 

Clear till nine this morning; the Iky then overcaft, and in 
the afternoon we had a little fnow. Ther. 5^ 23* — 3'' 34* 
—9'' 31*- 

The people were [Hckiag oakum, and ganging fiJh-hooks all FnJir 5< 

day. ir!^r5r. . 

It foowed faft uioft part of the mcHtung ; the reft of the day -^^^ 

was dull, but the ftiy cleared in the evening. Ther. j^ 30"-^- f-Asfi- 
3* 35*^— 9^* 29°. '^- 

Tilled went into the woods, and fi-nUbed the Hiallop oars. The suunUj' $. 
other hands hauled out the remainder of the firewood in l)4ar- ^L^rm. 
tin's Cove, and laid it on the fecond raft; they then brought 
home one of the oars, and a marten out of the cat-path. I went a'. «*»«». 
to Great Ukxxi, from whencs I faw firft Seven, next three, and 
then nine duter, but they were aU-too fer off for me to venture 
after them. Mr. Collingham went to the Cape-knd, where he 
met with a herd of about fourteen deer, and kiUed a Aag and 
a- hind at two Oiots ; after which he found tiie herd of nine 
which I &w, and at two hundred yards diftaoce ihpt a brace 
g{ hinds through at the fame fliot ; one of which he muft have 
got, had he had more powder; but t:he want of that, obliged 
hiffi to leave her; the other did not quit the herd. Thefe deer 
were killed juft in time, as^ we have but one piece of venifon 
leftj and that but very indiSerent. I hanre now &e pleafure to 
find myfelf as ftout and well as I cam ever e^qie^i to be, and 
my eye much better; the latter I attribute to the api^ation 
of white-vitriol-water. Mrs. Collingham was very ill all d^y; 
&« had the misfortune to hurt hevfclf yofterdaiy, w.d i« far 
advanced in pregnancy. 
Vol. III. Y A very 



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a62 THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

'"T^6 — * ^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^y' ^^^ '^ thawed freely although the air was 

Aprif. frofty. Then 5'' 26° — s** 40° — g^ 32*. 

Sunday 7. At fix this momlng, we fent four hands with a fled for the 
K. «?"' ^^^' 3"*^ ^^^y returned with them at one o'clock; but could 
Z"^- not find either of the wounded ones. They faw a herd of 
twelve deer on the pond at the head of South-eafl Cove, where 
Crane fired at one of them, but milled; they alfo faw four 
black-ducks. William killed three ptarmigans. The flag 
weighed a hundred and fixty two pounds; and the hind a 
hundred and twenty-eight. Mrs. CoUingham was no better to- 
day. 

Much fnow is gone off the ground within thefe two days 
pad. Foggy till nine this morning, but the reft of the day was 
clear. Then ^^ 28" a** 38"— 9^34^ 

Mondays. Tilfcd was Calking the old punt. Three hands brought 
s.wu>jtr»u. home the other ftiallop's oar, and afterwards cut fome more 
firewood in Martin's Cove. At nine o'clock, I went to Weftern 
S.S.E. Tickle to watch for deer; and at one, faw three crofs from 
the South Barrens, to the point under Mount Martin, from 
whence they came direftly for me; but before they came with- 
in fhot, they turned lower down, and pafTed through the litde 
tickle, which is next to Great IQand, where I endeavoured to 
meet them, but was too late; however I fired a random ftic* 
as they were running off, at three hundred yardsj but without 
efieft; they then went upVcnifon Head; they were an old 
hind, with only one horn, and two calves. Mrs. Collingham 
was very ill all day. A few geefe, and fome robins made their 
firft appearance. 
A clear, pleafant day, and a free thaw. Ther. 5'' 3 10 — g** 46*. 

Early 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

Early in the morning Mr. Collingham went to Table-Bay 
brook, and brought an otter out of one of his traps there: he 
faw about thirty geefe and apair of black ducks. When he 
came to the Ihore of this harbour, he met fix deer upon the 
ice, but could not get a fliot at them. We had fome of the k. w. 
firewood in White. Cove hauled to ■ the back of the faddle 
of this neck of land ; the feal-nets brought home ; the yawl 
turned up; the fnow-banks in front of the houfe thrown 
down; and fome larch bark taken off. Tilfed finifh the' old 
punt, and in the evening gave her a coat of pitch. Water _ 
appeared in the offing, but at a great diflance from the ihore, 
Mrs. Collingham was much better all day, but worfe than ufual 
at night. 

A very fine day. Ther. ^ 280 — 3'" 510— gi" 38°. 

Mrs. Collingham was fo ill all night that I thought ihe would wrfn«t lo. 
have, mifcarricd; but to-day, every unfavourable fympton "JiiiSS. 
abated. 



The fewel-fticks were brought home j fome more larch- 
bark got ; the boards taken off the top of the (hed, and many 
of the empty calks, and feveral other things removed out of 
it, that the ice and fnow may thaw the fader. After break- 
faft, I went upon the hill at the back of the houfe, and im- 
mediately faw three deer come out of South-eaA Cove, pafe 
through Weftern Tickle and go upoi) tfie illand-rock in Black- 
guard Bay. Soon after my return, I percieved three others 
ou the oppofite fide of the harbour, going upwards; but they 
turned, and came for the faddle. ^wUeje I waylaid them and 
fliould have had a (hot, had they not winded the houfe; when 
they went off for the ijlhmus: At the fame time, three more 
crolTed the harbour to Spit Point. Tilfed laid the Ihoots in 
Y 2 the 



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«* THE gtKtH VOYAGE. 

<- ,^ ' tiK dd pilot Uid fitted her with thwvts and otts. iceidd 
Api- not fee ihy water in tbesSag to-day. 

I*e air wasvery taild.'but we hadiK* much fun. Ther. 
5' 38°-^' S"" — g' S*°- 

'""^"- More ftiow w»s dipown ofiF fnwb the tarden^rouud, and 
K. >in. loBie firewood fawn up. I took a «talk to .the feoond break 
in Slinik Foiat this eveniqg, and ibund my hare-trap^ a hare 
had been caught in it, and had carried it a Uttle diftance off, 
«jri^ but the weaknefs of ^hefpring eaufed her to6fo«pe. Mrs. 
Cdlinghatn was very ill all laft night, ftimewhat better to- 
day, bat Worfe «gnii in the evening. Ther. s' 36° — 3' +2'^— 

Irida]ria. Tilfcd vifitcd the wcftem walk ; one of the traps was car- 
K.mir. iiiedoff.and the reftheftrnckup. He faw fome deer go from 
Veoifce Head.to Leveret Hland. Three hands lalhed the rafts, 
and afterwards grubbed up fome old Humps of trees in the ^- 
den. At ten o'clock, I perceived feven deer upon the ice, near 
ftttui. ^ Ssuth Bairens, which went through the feoond break to 
Venifon Head. I fent jack to Berry Hill, to turn them back, 
and went myfelf to meet them at Pigeon Rock; but notwith- 
fianc^g be headed ihem and drove them down upon the bay, 
they would not return, but turned along-ihore, (a hind and calf 
to his right, and five male-deer to his left) and made good their 
pesBt. At this time of the year, they gener^ly will do lb, 
indeipight of every «ppofitioti, as they are travelling to the 
Northward, and into the interior parts of the country; but 
in the winter, when Aey have no other objeS in view than to 
procure food, they rood cODAmonly turn back on being headed. 
' Mn. CoUingham had a good night and was confideraUy better 

all 



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THE SfXTH VOFACE. 165 

aM flay J I took fix -ounces of blood firDm her yeftcrdoy, snd < t- > 
did Hk ' fame to-day. m^* 

Vciy fine weather; Ther. 5'' 28" —3* 46** — 9^ 29". 

Some of die fewel-fticks were brought from Slink Point; s«iu% 13. 
more wood hauled out of WWte Cove; Syme bark boiled, J!'mi. 
and part of the chips, flumps and other rubbiOi were burnt 
tipon the garden-ground. William went up the deathfall-path 
and to the otter-traps, but got nothing. He faw plenty of 
geefc, ten deer, and four eider-ducks ; one of which he killed, * ^^' 
but could not get it. On Table Bay he broke through the 
ice up to his middle, yet did not feel any bottom. At eleven 
o'clock I went upon die hill at the extremit y of Slink Point, E. 
from whence I foon difcovered a brace of old hinds coming 
down South^eaft Cove, and endeavoured to give them the 
meeting. As they often altered their courle, they gave me fbme - 
trouble ; but at laft they made for Weftern Tickle, and I got s. e. /njkf 
(o Pigeon Rock in good time, from whence I 6red at the head- 
moft with my rifle, at a hundred and ten yards, and afterwards . 
with my double-barrel, at about a hundred and fifty, but milled , 
both times; flie then went on to Venifon Head, and the odier- 
turned up the harbour. Jack came to rae, and carried my 
things to the top of the hill, where X had not fat long, before ** 
ieven deer came off the South Barrens, xvalked down ,the har- 
bour,^ crofled Great Ifland, and went upon Veoiibn Head.. 
Shortly after, fifteen, others catne ofF.thetHigh Barrens, went: 
out upon the harbour and lay down upon the ice; I then re-> 
turned home. Three others had come this morning through < 
the tickle, and pafied clofe by the rock where I ufually fie. In ; 
^evening the above fifteen deer got up, and went upon Spit 
Point Ifland; I ^nt Wiltiam after them, and he fired twi(;e 
fr-om my double.barrel, but mified both times: obferviqg t^t wxierMe.-. 
they made for the fecond break, in Slink Point, I fent Tilfed 

there, . 



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166 



Sumlajr 14. 
IVhJ 
S.E. 

mtttereU, 



Mondaj ij. 
S.£. 



S.W.hS: 



fitart. 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

there, who got a very good Ihot as they pafled him on a gallop, 
but mifled. I faw a narrow vein of water extending from the 
north-eall end of Long Ifland towards Leveret Ifland; alfo, ob- 
ferved the firft appearance of vegetation this feafon. 

Mrs. CoUingham was very indifferent all day, and worfe in 
the evening- My eye is very dim yet. 

A fine day, but the air was cold. Ther. ^ 28" — 3*^ 44" — ■ 
9^ 32°- 

Crane and Tom took a walk to Table Bay this morning, 
where they faw a multitude of gecfe, a few brafs-winged divers, 
and the flot of a lafgc herd of deer, which had gone into the 
country. From the hill above the houfe I obferved, that the 
ice had opened conliderably fince yeft'erday; and that it ex- 
tended beyond Cape North, farther than I could fee. Mrs. 
Collingham had a tolerable night, was pretty eafy to-day, and 
better than ufuat in the evening. 

A fine day, but the wind was cold. Ther. 5'' 30' — 3'' 46° — 
9b 350. 

Tilfed was varioufly employed. One hand boiled bark, 
and Mr. CoUingham with the other two had a thorough over- 
^9.\i\ in the flore-room and (killing; when we found, that it 
was very fortunate for us that we had killed fo many deer, as 
we have now but three cafits of pork, and very few peafe left; 
the whole of which would otherwife have been expended before 
this time, and confequently all of us would moft probably 
have perilhed for want of provisions, before we could poflibly 
have received a frcfh fupply. At nine o'clock, I went to the 
extremity of the point to watch for deer, but faw none. How- 
ever 1 had the pleafure to oblerve, that the ice was broken up 
from Round Ifiand, to the eaftem extremity of Huntingdon 
lOand. 

Mrs. 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 167 

Mrs. Collingham had a good night, and was much better <-r^ — • 

to-day than Ihe has been any time fince her illnefs began. ""/• 

A very fine day, with a mild air. Ther. 5' 35° — 3' 50° itm 
-9" 36-. 

Tilfed repaired, trimmed, and painted the yawl. More bark TueidajrtS. 
was boiled, and fome of the old (lumps in the gardengrubbed up ^•/'^. 
and burnt, together with the fwarth. The ground is a fine, (harp j j ^^j, 
white fand, over which is a black peat foil of eight inches, and 
on the top of that, a bed of dead leaves about the fame depth. 5, 
I was netting mod part of this day. Mrs. Collingham was 
tolerable. s. £■ 

The fore part of this day was cloudy, the middle clear, the 
afternoon foggy with fmall rain, and at night it fnowed. Ther- 
5k 36"— 3' 47°— 9I' 32°. 

Tilfed was employed varioufly. The cut which he gave wrfnef. 17. 
himfelf on the twenty-fifth of laft month, is likely to prove an 
obdinate cafe. Some more bark w^s. boiled, and part of- the 
garden ground pared and burnt. Mrs. Collingham is fo much . 
better, that (he lat up moft part of the day, and dined with usj • 

to all appearance flie is now out of danger. I 'was netting all ^ j, 
day. 

The weather was foggy and cool; at night it fnowed a little. 
Ther. 5' 34°— 3'' 38°— lo'' 32°., 

Tilfed was employed in joiner's work, and; the reft' were xhuriaayis. 
boiling bark, and clearing the garden ground. I was netting N.jman. 
all day, and at night finifhed my work; which was a net, to fell 
to the £fquimaux Indians, to catch, trouts with inimall brooks- 
Mrs. Collingham was pretty well, 

^oggy> ^3^v weather, with fleet and fmaill rain. Ther. 5'' 32' jf^^fr . 
— S*" 37°— ■10'' 32^ 

Early 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

Early n the nioming we lent five bwida with, die old &iff 
upoa die ksvQ fleds to North Harbour^ where they- leit her, 
and bKHi^t n»ne of WiUiaoa'a traps back. Mr. Cc^n^am 
went at the fame time tO'Mount Martin, and ftruck vp s^ the 
traps which are in that walk. At nine I went upon Slink Point, 
and faw three deer upon Blackguard Bay going towards the 
fecond break, and not far from it; but on feeing me, they 
turned off, went through »he tickle, and then up the harbour 
to the iflhmus. Much tracking" of foses was feen every where 

M £. little. . 

to4ay, and I had a yellow one in a trap on the point; but as 
his colour was greatly faded, X did not tail that trap^ again, but ' 
ftmck up the other. As I was returning home at one o'clock, 
I difcovered fix deer ctuning down South-eaft Cove, and went 
to the tickle- to wait for them, but they turned upon Great 
Ifland. I followed them thither, and found them feeding in the 
pond near the flagHaff; there I got a fhot at a male-deer of two 
ye»:s old, at a hundred and fifteen yards,and killed him on the 
M'^-iiitk. fpot: the reft crolfcd Blackguard Bay, to Venifon Head, A 
few other deer had pafiFed through the tickle, this morning to 
the fame place; and our people faw a brace crofs the harbour, 
as they were going up it. I fent cwie hand for the fox, and 
two, to paunch the deer and bring my guns home, for being 
fatigued, I had left them on the inland, but they returned in 
the evening without finding either of them ; however, I fent 
them back immediately, and then they made a fliift to find 
both. Mrs. ColHngham was quite well to-day. 

Cloudy in the morning, but clear afterwards with a frofty 
air. Then g*" 30* — 3** 36"- — irf* 29'. 

^■^. "• At day light, I fent two hands, with a fled, for the deer; and 
M^Ui had it broken up as &non as they returned; it weighed but 
'Q'x^L feventy three pounds and three quarters, for they are now 

eAremely 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. iffg 

extremely poor. Some foxes had been at him laft m'ght^ and r- — *- — » 
had eaten the humbles and guts, but did not touch the carcafs. May*. 
as I had burnt feme gunpowder on it; the people faw a brace 
of deer come through the tickle as they were going to the 
illand. After breakfaft two hands carried the cage-traps to 
the fecond break in Slink Point ; in the evening I put a live 
fowl into them, and had drags drawn up to them both from 
this lide, and the i/land. Mr. Collingham went to Table Bay, 
and brought home an otter and a black-duck. More garden- 
ground was cleared, and anchors were laid out upon the ice, 
both to the fliallop, and the rafts of firewood. I went upon 
Slink Point, and fat watching for deer about three hours, but tatm 
faw none. The fnow being thawed off great part of the hill 
at the back of the houfe, we difcovered plenty of fnake-weed 
growing there; which I believe is the firft that has been 
found in this country. 

A clear day, but the air was cold. Ther. 4I' 26° — ^3* 46" — 
10' 34°. 

Early this morning, William went to the cage-traps, and Sunday at; 
brought the fowl home; no foxes had been near it. He met s.i.uuu. 
with a brace of hares, and killed one of them; fhe had five 
young ones in her. In the evening he carried the fowl back flrH. 
again, and killed a brace of groufe. Crane killed a brace of 
fpruce-game near the houfe. 

A very fine day, but the air Hill frolly. Ther. 4'' aS" — 3' 
47°— 10' 31° • 

At five this morning, Mr. Collingham took a walk to the Monday ... 

South b,irr?ns to fee if it were praSicable to haul a fled over jj^^^ 

them, but found it was not. William brought home the fowl; "'t^T 

no foxes had been near it. Tilfed made a couple of anchor- S""-'- 
buoys, «nd plugged up the hole in the fliallop. Three hands 
Vol.. III. Z dug 



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170 



May. 



TijeG]*7 23. 
Wind 



Wduf. >4. 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

dug, and prepared part of the garden for fowin^. i took a 
waUc along the point, and iat four hours watching for deer, but 
faw none. I obferved, that the ice along the fliore l^reaks up 
but flowly, and, that abundance of eider ducks were off the 
caftem point of Venifon Head. Some loons, whabbies, and 
ffaellbirds were feen to-day. 

Dull and cloudy till one o'clock, clear afterwards, but the 
airis ftill very cold. Ther. 4' 31°— ^^ 40° — lo* 30° . 

This morning I fowed the ground which was prepared yef- 
terday, with various forts of feeds. Three hands were clearing 
more ground. Tilfed was at work on a door for the garden 
till breakfall, after which, he was roping the new fails. Mr. 
CoUingham went to Venilbn Head, wheie he killed four 
Ihellbirds, a black-diver, and a groufej but fome faddlebacks 
carried off one of the former, and ate great part of two others, 
while he was tiying to get a (hot at fome eider-ducks, which 
were very numerous near the north-eall fhore. At noon, I 
went upon Slink Point, and fat watching for two hours, but 
faw no deer; there are but few left hereabouts now. 

Thick fog with fliarp froft in the morning, but the reft of 
the day was clear. Ther. 4'' 27° — ^ 49° — lo* 34'. 

Tilfed worked upon the garden-door in the morning, and 
upon the fails afterwards. Two hands were removing wood- 
piles, and digging drains round the garden. One boy ill of 
a llux. The upper part of Martin's Cove is now thawed out, 
and the rafts are afloat. A few fmall Socks of eider-ducks, 
fiew pall the houfe into the cove. 

Flying clouds with feveral ihort, thia (bowers of {how. 
TJkt- 4'' 34* —3' 48° — lo* 35°. 



Early 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 171 

Early this morning, two bands went for Mr, Collingfaam*s f""^"^^^ 
canoe, and brought it borne upon a fled. Three hands hauled Majr. 
fome firewood from White-cove Pond to the faddle, and af- ^^ *' 
terwards cleared fome more ground. Tilfed finifhed the gar- "-J^- 
den door, and then worked on the fhalbp's rigging. Eight 
deer crofied the harbour from the High Barrens, into Shoal- 
Gove; and three from Martin's Cove to Mount Martin Point. 
I fowed a few grains of wheat, oats, and barley in the garden, 
for anr experiment. 

A duU, raw day with fome fog and fmall rain. Ther. 4'' 34* 
—gh 36<^-io'' 35°. 



Pridtyafi 
N.mtdtnta 



Some fir bark was got and part of it boiled. Tilfed was at 
work on the new fails, and the reft of the people were digging 
a large drain in the garden, and clearing more ground. Mr. 
Collingham was packing up goods for Indian-trade. The ice 
is broken into pans by the Ihores of this harisour, and tbofe 
of Blackguard Bay, and the remainder is full of large holes, 
with great numbers of feals continually lying upon the ice. 

Cloudy till noon, clear after. Then 4'' 36* — 3''50* — ib*" 

Mr. Collingham packed up more goods. Tilfed HniHied the Swndijray. 
iails. More bark was got and boiled; part of the garden dug andm!^k 
and the Humps, &c. burnt upon it. This morning, I walked "''*'• 
to Weftern Tickle, which being open has great numbers of 
ducks in it. I fat there for fome time, but could get only one 
bad (hot Blackguard Bay is open near to the fouth-wefl: end 
of Great Ifland, and the fhoal parts of it are thawed out 

A clear and exceeding hot day. Ther. 4'' 45* — ^ 72— lo** 
4&>. 



Z 2 



Martin's 



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May. 



Jf. wdtritt. 






172 THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

Martin's Cove is thawed as far as the fliallop. 
Foggy, with fmall rain in the forenoon, but in the afternoon 
it fnowed. Ther. 4'' 38* — s"* 32° — 10'' 32°. 

Tilfed trimmed the fmall punt, and part of the fealing-fkiff. 
Two hands cleared feme more ground. Mr. Collingham packed 
up more goods. In the evening I went to the point of Martin's 
Cove, and killed a black-duck. 

The forenoon was dark and cold, but the afternoon clear and 
mild. Ther. 4'' 32° — 3'' 39° — lo*" 34". 

Tilfed finiflied the fealing-flciff, and loomed fome oars. More 
ground was cleared, and I fowed another piece. Several 
things which were fown on the twenty-third, are now out of the 
ground. Martin's Cove being thawed out, and there being a com- 
munication to it from hence, Mr. Collingham went this evening, 
in the punt with two hands, to look at the Oiallop and rafts; 
finding that one of the latter had parted from its mooring, be 
- laid the grapnal down, and rode it by that. 

This being a very fine, mild day, much ice and fnow were 
s.iiau. carried off. Ther, 4*" 30° — 3'' 62° — 10'' 45°. 

■wednef.3«. Early this morning, Tilfed went toWeftern Tickle and Ihot 
x.jTf^. three Ihellbirds. After breakfafl;, we fent four hands with fome 
provifions to North Harbour. At one in the afternoon, this 
fide of the harbour being quite open, a large Iheet of ice drove 
foul of the Fox, brought her anchor home, and drove her up 
the cove, and we expefted, that the ice would havedemoli{h- 
ed her entirely ; Ihe rode for a while, but at laft drove t^ain 
and was forced on fliore: the rafts drove alfo. At four 
o'clock the people returned, when we fent them to try what 
they could do at the fhallop and raftSj and they made them 

aU. 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 173 

all fall to the fhorc: one of the rafts had parted from her moor- t — ^|- — . 
ing. All of Blackguard Bay, except White Cove, was clear M«y ' 
of ice to-day. Tilfed killed a black-duck in the evening. 

The morning was tolerably clear, but the afternoon was dou- 
dy ; a cool air. Ther. 4'' 38° — ^^ 47" — 10'' 35°, 

This morning we found the Fox driven farther in; and al- Thuriihyi* 
though fhe was among the rocks at the head of the cove, yet J*^ 
Ihe did not lie badly : the plug was well fccured, and all the modertt. 
water pumped out. As the tide flowed, all the ice at the lower 
part of the harbour drew up this way ; but the wind (hifting 
at two o'clock, it drove back again, and that which was in 
Martin's Cove followed; by the evening the greateft part of it 
was driven out to fea. The new fails, and fome of the old 
ones were barked, fome more ground was cleared, and drains w^^'. 
cut. Thofe things which were fown firft, grow very fall. 
Multitudes of eider-ducks came into the harbour to-day. We 
drcfied our laft piece of venifon, as it would keep no longer. Z"^' 

A dark morning, clear day, and cloudy evening, with a 
little rain; cold till two o'clock, but very warm afterwards. 
Ther, 4*' 35^—3'' 68°— lo'" 54". 

At five this morning, a (hallop belonging to Noble and Pin- ^"^y «• 
fon pafled through this harbour from Paradife to Temple Bay, " ' 
After breakfafl 1 fent four hands in the fealing-lkilF to get the 
Fox off, which they did, by making the largeft- raft of wood 
fad to a rock, and taking her anchor; with which, and the one 
Ihe rode by (the ftock of which we found was broken) they jrtmg^. 
moored her in deep water: they found the rafts in a crazy 
condition, and likely to go to pieces if the wind holds much 
longer. They fook up the grapnal and brought it home. Wil- 
liam vifited the traps at the head uf Table Bay, and brought 

home; 



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THE SIXTH VOYA&E. 

home two otters and a fliellbird. Some more groand wai 
cleaned, and that which was cleared yeilerday, was dug and 
made ready for fowing. Tilfed put mail-thwarts and Heps 
inl» the fealing-fkiif. All the ice which remained in the har- 
bour is now driven up to the head of it. 

Cloudy, with a fprinkling of rain in the morning, clear during 
the middle of the day, and cloudy again afterwards. Ther. 
4' 4'°— 3'' 43°—"''' 34°- 

SMuidajr 3. The main drain in the garden was completed, and that part 

which was cleared on Thurfday, was dug over again and fowed 

iMt. with turnip-feed. Tilfed was making a rudder for the fealing- 

ikiff. At eleven o'clock we lent four hands towarp the raftshome, 

£, otu. which they did by four in the afternoon and they afterwards 

got the greateft part of one of them on fliore. In the afternoon; 

the wind Ihifting, the' ice drove from the head of the harbour 

s.z./i-s«. to this fide, and great part of it was drawn out of the tickle 

by the tide. 

A few flying clouds till five o'clock, when it grew very hazy; 
a cold air. Ther. ^ 33" — 3'' 43" — lo'^ 35*. 

Suncbjr 4. •phe remainder of the raft was brought on fliore. 

A cloudy, dark day, and very cold; in the evening it fnowed. 
'""' Ther. 41' 330— s' 36°— lo' 32°. 

*Jj°J^- All hands were at work on the other raft of wood, and at 
five o'clock they landed the laft of it; they then ground their 
hatchets. I bled Mr. CoUingham. 

This morning there was new ice half an inch thick, and it 
froze Iharp, with a fprinkling of fnow, till the evening; then the 
lly cleared, and the air grew milder. Ther. 4' 26° — s' 34" 
— jo' 32°. 

Early 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

Early this morning, X fent the people to haul the yawl higher 
up, and at ei^t o'clock, Mr. Collingham took three hands with 
him, in the fealing fltiff, and went up the harbour; intending 
to leave that boat on the ifthmus, to walk acrofe to North 
Harbour, take the old punt there, and proceed up Table Bay 
to get fome rinds, and fell timber for building a ftore-houfe. 
At the fame time I went in the fmall punt with a couple of 
hands, and viiited the two duck-iflfuids, which are between 
Great and Loi^ Ifland; and alfo the fmall one, which lies off 
the weft comer of Round Ifland; we could find no eggs, ex- 
cept one pair of gull's on the latter; but many ncfts were 
fcraped out. I killed live eider-ducks; and William one, 
which he could not get, and we gathered a kettle full of young 
alexander. In the afternoon I fent William to Table Bay by 
land, to join Mr. Collingham. 

A clear day, but very cold. Ther. 4'' 30* — 3^ 43" — lo"" 32°. 

In the forenoon, I walked round White Cove, and killed an Wejnef.7, 

eider-duck. I obfervcd a fmall jam of ice clofe in to Long, 's.aut. ' 

and Green Ifland. /^.* 

Very cold all day, notwithdanding the flty was clear till five ■^™'*' 
in the;, afternoon, when a thick haze came over it. Ther. 4^ 
32"— 3'' 5°°— lo"" 4°^- 

The laft^cleared ground was dug over, and fires made upcm TburCk^a. 
it with the ftumps, &c. . ^Tt"'" 

The weather was mild and cloudy till five o'clock, when 
we had a ftroDg, fhort fquall, and it then -grew fo cold, that 
the thermometer fell fixteen degrees in two hours; after which ^•.fi"*f< 
it rained, then hailed, and at laftfnowed; infomuch that, by 
tbe evening the ground was covered an .inch and a half. Ther. 
4*400 — ^ 50" — lo*" 32*. . 

I i walked 1 



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Sunday tt. 



Mondav 12. 
JV, moaeratt. 
N.E.UttU. 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

I walked out with my gun, but killed nothing, and tailed 
four traps for ducks on the ifland-rock near the houfe. Only 
a little fcattered ice in fight to-day. 

Cloudy, hazy, and cold till four o'clotk ; clear and mild af- 
terwards. Ther. 4'' 40* — ^3'' 50° — lo*" 36*. 

I fowed that piece of ground with turnips, which was dug 
over on Thurfday, and then went upon the hill behind the 
houfe, from whence I obferved, that the jam was clofe in with 
the (hore to the northward; and extended from thence, with- 
in the Gannets to Black Iflands. I had a duck in one of 
the traps. At night Mr. Cdllingham and the people returned ; 
having taken off as many rinds, as will be fufficient. He 
brought with him two otters, a ilink-falmon, fix ducks, and two 
hundred and eleven eggs. 

A very fine day. Ther. 4'' 34" — ^ 62" — lo"" 40*. 

After breakfaft, the Fox was towed down here and laid on 
fliore, in order to be trimmed. 

Dark oral weather, with a little rain. Ther. 4'' 40" — ^ 43* 
— lo'' 40°. 

Tilfed repaired and trimmed the Fox; the reft of the peo- 
ple aflifting moft part of the day : and in the evening, they 
hauled her off to her moorings. 

The forepart of the day was dull, and the latter clear; a 
cold air. Ther. 4^ 40'' — 2i^ 46" — 10'' 41°. 

All hands were employed in examining and repairing the 
Fox's rigging; they towed off her mafts, and put them on 
board. I went upon the hill, from whence I could fee no ice 
in the offing, except a few fcattered, fmall iflands. I had a 
duck in one of the traps. 

Cloudy 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

Cloudy all day with frequent Ihowers of rain. Then 4' 
45°— 3'' 64°— 10' 49°. 

Early in the morning Mr. CoUingham and all bands went on Woinef. .4. 
board the Fox, and fet up her mafls; three hands were em- t^.^raa^ 
ployed on board her all day, and in the evening they bent her 
lails. One man cleared fome more ground in the garden. From s. ff. e. 
the top of the hill I could perceive that the jam was out-iide n. ei 
oF the Gannets. "*^'"' 

A clear day, but in the evening it rained. Ther. 4' 50° — a' 
70°— 10" 38". 

Early in the morning I fent Crane to Table Bay to repack Tbn'iajy 15. 
the rinds ; he returned in the afternoon with an otter, and j(r«v. 
faid that the rinds were very much heated. Tilfed and two of 
the boys ballafted the Fox, and brought the yawl home, and 
moored her oppofite to the houfe with two killicks. s.ktri. 

Fog and rain all day, with fome Ihow in the evening. Ther. 
4' 3+° —3'' 36°— lo' 34°. 

Part of the garden fence was fet up, and the door hung. At ^^^^ *®' 
noon I was feized with a fevere attack of the lumbago, which •■^'^* 
generally precceds that of the fciatica. 

Dark, cold weather all day: it fnowed fail in the morning, 
urTtil the ground was covered two inches. A good deal of 
drift-ice came into the harbour; the wind having forced the jam 
dofe in with the Ihore. Ther. 4'' 32" — ^ 36° — 10'* 34*. 

Early in the morning I fent Crane to Table Bay, and- he Saurfiy i;. 
returned at night; having repacked the rinds, heaved fuch as "'■• 
were too hot, and fhot a diver. Mr. and Mns. CoUingham 
went in the fealing-flciff w'th three hands, to gather eggs upon j ^ 
the iflands at the head of the hattxiur, and thofe at the mouth "•*""• 
Vol. m A a of 



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178 



fnjh. 



vtriaile 
mtdtittiiTatt. 



Mmixf 19, 
■ S W. 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

rfit; they returned at night with fix hundred and forty-fcven 
eggs and fifteen ducks. I was confined to my bed all day, 
and my back was as bad as if it were aflually broken. The 
jam is clofe in to the fhore. Blackguard Bay is full, and a great 
deal is forced into the harbour; but in the evening it began to 
move off again. 

The morning was (harp, but the day proved clear and warm. 
Ther. 4'' 32° — '^ 61 * — 10'' 40*. 

Mr, CoUingham, taking four hands with him, went up the 
harbour in the fealing-fkiff; from thence they walked acrois 
the illhmus, took the large punt in North Harbour, and vifited 
the Duck Iflands in South Harbour. They returned at ten.at 
night, and brought htMne eighteen eider-ducks, and above a 
thoufand e^. I put a large bliflier on my left hip. 

A very fine day, but it rained hard in the evening. Ther. 
4'' 39"— 3' 59"- 10" 51°. 

At noon, a (hallop belonging to Noble and Pinfon, paffcd 
through this harbour for Paradifc : we fent a boat on board 
her, and learned from the people, that there was a very bad 
leahng-fealbn lad fall on this coall; eleven hundred were killed 
at Battle Harbour, and one hundred at Cape Charles, but fcarce- 
ly any at any. other poft; that many veflels were loft on their re- 
turn to England laft year ; among which number, was that 
which was commanded by Mr. Helling, (brother-in-law to 
Pinfon) who, together with his whole crew, perifhed. Mr. 
Collingham was bufy all the morning in (hipping off goods and 
provifions on board the Fox, and at two in the afternoon he 
failed in her, with three hands, for Ivucktoke Bay. At three 
o'clock a (hallop worked into this harbour, and anchored op- 
pofite to the fecond break in Slink Point: Die belonged to Mr, 
Demoetie and partner, both of whom came here: they had 

wintered 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. J79 

wintered in Ivucktoke Bay, and are returning to Quebec, being '""J^ — » 
Canadiai.s. They had killed but very few furs laft winter. I June, 
kept my bed all day, and was in the greateil pain ; not being able 
to turn without help, and even then with the greateft difficulty. 
A very fine day. Ther. 4'' gi* — s*" 62" — 10'' 42°. 

Early this morning the Canadians failed. Crane went to Ta- "'f^**** 
ble Bay and repacked the rinds; he found the largeft pile too u//s!^e^ 
much heated, and brought an otter out of one of the traps. I ^^ 
was ib much better, as to be able to get up twice to-day, and oUtnattt,. 
to continue in a kneeling pofture, leaning upon a cheft, for 
above twp hours each time. 

A very fine day. Ther. ^ 41*' — f' 65° — 10^ 50°, 

The empty caflcs were reftowed in the (bed, fome of the WedueC %u 
irewood piled, and the otter fltinne< 
to-day, as to be able to fit in a chair. 
Then^"" 48"— 3'' 59°— id'' 48". 

Crane repacked the rinds in Table Bay, which he found Thuriaiy 22. 
rather warm. We cut a plate of muflard and creflcs to-day ; ^^^t. 
being the firft this year. My back is confiderably better, but 
I have now a good deal of the fciatica in my left hip. s. e. jrt^t 

It rained hard mofl part of the morning, and the refl of the 
day was heavy with a few thowers; very foggy in the evening. 
Ther. 4'', 46° — 3'' 52° — lo*" 48°. 

The garden was enclofed with a ring-fence of old falmon- '^"^y "a* 
nets. The things do not grow fo faft as they ought, by reafbn "' ^' '^^' 
of the late cold weather; which was occafioned by the wind 
hanging fo much in the northern and eailem" quarter. More 
of the firewood was piled. My right eye is now confiderably 
A a 2 better. 



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i8q the sixth voyage. 

t — j^^;^ ter. I have but little pain in my back, yet more in my hip; 
juM. I was able to fit up great part of the day. 

Fog all day, with feme rain. Then 4'' 48' — s^* 43' — 10'' 

43"- 

Saturday 84. ^ fj^^y^ fp^^ ^f ground ^^s cleaicd, which completes the 

jr,^ whole now enclofed ; I had another bit manured, with rotten 

x.tes.£. fea-weed dug in, and aflies ftrewed over the furface. I was 

J^- drelled to-day, and fat up a long time, but had more iciatic 

pains than yeftcrday. 

Foggy with imall rain. Ther. 4'' 43° — 3^ 46<» — lo"* 44* , 

''^'*' Crane went to the rinds; a few of which he found black 
'•^^' and flimy, but the reft in good condition. In the afternoon 
M E. attk. a (hallop, from Paradife for Temple Bay, came here, and an- 
chored before the houfe. The boatfmafter brought me an old 
double-fpring trap. I was fo much better as to be able to lit 
up moft part of the day; wrote letters to England and Temple 
Bay. 
Foggy all day. Ther, 4'' 43° — s** 49* — lo"- 450, 

Moi.d»ys6, With the affiftance of Noble and Pinfon's people, I had a 
x'£toM flagftaeFfet up on the top of the hill, hi the back of the houfe, 
which henceforth I Ihall diftinguiOi by the name of FlagftafF 
Hill. Some more turnips were fown, the fcaling-fkifF hauled 
up, and more firewood piled. I was well enough to-day to be 
able to walk round the garden, where I obferved that every 
thing was out of the ground and likely to do well, except af- 
paragus^ cucumbers and fennel, which have not made their 
appearance yet ; but nothing grows faft, lor want of warmer 
weather. 
A thick, wet fog all day. Ther. 4'- 43"— a"* 48* — lo"* 42*. 

At 



littU. 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

At nine this morning the (hallop failed for Temple Bay. A 
£re was made of flumps, fods &c. on the fpot next the gar- 
den door; another piece was manured with rotten kelp and 
afhes, for cabbages and more radifhes; fome fpinacb, lettuces 
and beet were fbwn. I was much better to-day. 

A thick, f<^ till nine in the morning, when it cleared away, 
and the reft of the day proved very fine. Ther, 4'» 42" — 3** 

Early in the morning. Crane went to the rinds and returned 
in the evening; he reported, that they all were cured. Jack 
finiflied manuring the cabbage-plat, and I fbwed fome more 
fpinach round it, which completed one drill, on each fide: I al- 
fo fowed more crefles between the former drills. Two deer- 
flips were tailed in the paths in Martin's Cove. 

A clear and very hot day. Ther. 4** 42° — 3*" 69*" — 10'' 




Mr. Collingham returned this morning, and brought a fmall Thurf^ysQ. 
quantity of oil, whalebone, and fkins. The Efquimaux had ^nti 
killed a great deal of oil lafl winter, but they had fold almofl ^ ,^„aM 
the, whole of it to the Canadians, and two Engliftimen who. 
wintered in Ivucktoke Bay. He met with fome Mountaineer 
Indians, who informed him, that about twenty families of 
their nation had wintered there, and had killed a number of *'«"'^^' 
furs, which they had fold to the Canadians. He alfo brought 
a dozen eider-ducks, and about two thou fand eggs; moftof 
which were thofe of fhags. He left the Indians yefterday;. 
they promlfed to follow him fhortly. We landed the. goods,, 
had the lop of the ftick-fence of the garden cut even, a large 
heap of afhes ftrewed on the beds, and in the afternoon I tranfr- 
planted foine cabbages and lettuces. 



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i83 THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

I — f^^ A very hot day ; in the evening, we had a fmart fliower of 

June. rain. Ther, 4° 60'' — 7,^ 78° —10*' 62" . 

Friday 30. That paft of the.garden by the door was dug and levelled, 

s. £. the hatchets were ground, and other things done in the early 



/rsfi. 



part of the morning; provifions and other things were then 
put on board the Fox, and at noon. Tilled, with three hands 
went to fea, to try for codfifii ; with orders to proceed to Table 
Bay, if he could not catch any. 

When Mr. Coltingham was at the Indian fettlement, they 
{hewed him a fmall ifland in the mouth of the b^y, and near 
to the north fliore of it, on which a moll tragical fcenc hap- 
pened about fifty years ago. A number of Efquimaux were 
then encamped upon it, when a difpute arofe between 
two young men, about the wife of one of them, with whom 
the other was in love, and infilled upon having her from 
him. High words enfued ; the refpeflive friends of the two 
men took part with them, and not being able to fettle the mat- 
ter amicably, they at length had recourfe to their bows: their 
arrows flew fwiftly until all were expended; they then at- 
tacked each other with their knives. Neither age nor fex were 
Ipared in this civil diifenfion. The feeble grandfire, the ten- 
der mother, and the infant at her breaft fell alike undiftin- 
guilhed vidims of frantic rage and ungoverned fury. Two 
men only, and they of oppolite parties, furvived the bloody 
contefl: when each, furveying the dreadful carnage that every 
where furroundcd him, and ftruck with the thought of what 
would become of himfelf, if he killed his antagonift, agreed to 
defift. 

Mr. Collingham fowed fome turnips, and tranfplanted fcwne 
cabbages by the ihore fide. One cucumber plant appears. 

A very fine day. Ther. 4^ 54" — s*" 68" — 10^ 63'. 

As 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

As ourfhallop is not yet returned, Mr. CoUingham went off, 
at nine this morning, on foot, for North Harbour, where he had 
ordered Tilfed to meet him, provided he found no &fh. The 
garden has come o^faft within thefe laft five days: yefterday 
we pulled a plate/radilhes, and a good diQi of turnip-greens, 
audit will afford us the latter every day in future, until better 
things are fit to cut, and in a few days we fhall have abun- ' *' 
dance of radilhes. To-day I tranfplanted as many cabbages, 
cauliflowers, and other plants of that clafs as the large- bed 
would hold. 

A very fine day, and not too hot. For the remainder of 
the fummer I fhall only mark down the ftate of the thermo- 
meter when at the highefl; to-day it flood at 68* . 

At noon Mr. CoUingham returned by land, and brought a Sunday a. 
falmon. He informed me that the Fox arrived in North Har- 
hour jufl before he did; not having met with any cod-fifh. — 
That, he landed upon the duck-iflands at the weft end of South 
Harbour, where he killed fifteen ducks, and gathered a hun- 
dred and fifty good eggs-, a white-bear had been upon one of ^- *•**«*• 
them lately, and eaten every egg. — That, he got to the head 
of Table Bay late laft night and immediately put out a falmon- 
net ; in which he had eight fifli this morning. No otters in the 
traps, but three of them were flruck up by a white-bear; one of 
which was carried to Ibme diftance down the fide of the river- 
At two o'clock William came home and brought another fal- 
mon ; he returned at four, and Jack went along with him. 

A fine day, yet we had a little rain in the morning, ancL> 
again in the afternoon. Then 62°. 

Mr. CoUingham tranfplanted fbme of the cabbage tribe a- Monday 3. 
mong-the rotten kelp by the fhorc fide, and alfo, on the un^ f.Ji^ 

cultivated. 



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Tuefdijr 4; 

N. N, E. . 
frt/k. 
£. N. £. 

madarait: 



Wrfnef. 5. 
•\.S.E 






H-t-waitratt 



Fridajr, 7. 
W.m»itTatt. 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

culcivaied fpot at the fouthtwefl; end of the houjib. At one 
o'clock. Jack returned with a falmon; they had fix in the net 
Uft night, and three this morning, I took a walk to the iecond 
hiU on SHnk Point, and wounded a fhellbird and a gull. 

The day was cloudy and cool, with rain in the early part 
of the morning, and alfo moft part of the afternoon. Ther. 
50'. 

After breakfall, Mr. CoUingham fet out on foot for Table 
Bay. Jack was piling firewood. In the evening, I tranfplanted 
Ibme more lettuces. 

Broken clouds with a (how:er of rain, and dillant thunder 
in the afternoon. Ther. 58". 

I tranfplanted more of the cabbage tribe, and fome lettuces : 
alfo I fowed the feeds I mixed all kinds of cabbages, cauli- 
flowers, brocoli and coles together. At dark Mr. CoUingham 
returned and brought two &lmon. ' 

A cloudy, cold day with fmall rain in the afternoon. Ther. 

46-. 

Mr. Ckillingham tranfplanted fome more of the callage 
tribe, and I made fome nets for geefe and ducks, out of an 
old falmon-net. 

Lafl; night it rained hard, and we had fmall rain, wjth fog 
all this day; in the evening the fog cleared away ^nd the 
clouds broke. Ther. 46*. 

■ After breakfaft, Mr. CoUingham went off for Table Bay by 
land. I made fome more nets for geefe and ducks, and in 
the afternoon went upon Flagftaff-hill, from whence I could 
perceive the jam to be dofe in with the fhore to the north- 
ward 



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THE SIXTH V0VAGE. 

ward, and not far &om Long, nor Btodt Ifland.' 

Tlie forenoon wa» dull« but the douds broi^e in the after' 
noon. Then 56'. 

I cut the fpinach and lalted it for the winter. I faw a fwal- 
low, which is the firft I have cdiferved here; but they have 
returned Long iince, as Mr. Collingham faw many of them axid 
their neils, when he was upon bis northern voyage. ' Mr. Coi> 
lingham returned at night and braugb: a falmon. 

A clear and hot day. Ther. 79*. 

Mr. Collingham took, a yiew of the ice th^ afterno^ &em 
Flagftaff Hill, and found it much in the fame ftate as yeft^day. 

It rained hard during the greatefl part of lafl night, and we 
had feme fmart (bowers this xnorning-till fevcn o'clock ; the vefl: 
of the day was clear and h(^ till two, when the wind' Qaifted 
and the air grew cool i foggy at night. Thcr. 68*. 

At ten this morning Mr. Collingham went off for Table Bay, 
I thinned the turnip bed at the weft corner of the houfe, atld 
had a fire made in the garden of flumps, &c. 

Broken clouds in the forenoon, and fome fmai^t fhOwerSb 
with diftant thunder afterwards. Ther. 68*. 




S.tr.Jrtfi. 



Sonde's. 
fF.fyS. 



Monday lo. 
S.E. 

medtraU, 



At ten this morning, two boats of Efquimaux arrived here 
from IvucktokeBay ; they were followed at eleven by two 
others. At night Mr. Collingham returned and brought, an 
otter and a; falmon. 

A very fine day, with a.little rain at night. Ther, 60". 

We had a little trade with the Indians to-day, but they have 
not much to fell. Numbers of them have been fb continually 
in our houfe ever fince their ai-rival, that it was both inconve- 
Y01..UI. B b. nieht. 



TueCby ti, 
IT. It. W. 

jTcJh. 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

nient and difagreeable to us. A ftnall brig pafled by this har4>our 
towards Sandwich Bay this afternoon; and at eight at night, 
having put back again, fhe came to an anchor in the liarbour. 
Mr. Collingham went on board and found her to be the Mary, 

Smith, mafter; belonging to Noble and Pinfon. The 

mailer, and the gunner of his Majefty's floop Merlin were on 
N, board; they are come to receive from me, the cannon and fmall 
arms with which I was furnilhed by Government in the laft 
war. I alfo received by ihis conveyance, a letter . from Wil- 
liam Pinfon; the whole contents of which are infamous falfities. 
defignedly calculated to pick a quarrel with us, in hopes of 
taking an unfair advantage of our lltuation. 
A very fine day. Ther 62*- 

T\axi&xf ig. Early this morning Mr. Collingham delivered me a letter 
s.w.iittu. ^jjj^.ij ijg 1jj(J received from Noble and Pinfon, brought by the 
Mary, in which they informed him, that my ^ignees had at- 
tached all the goods which he fent to En^and laft year, for 
the benefit of themfelves (Noble and Pinfon) and likewifc 
Bilfely accufing both Mr. Collingham and myfelf of embezzling 
part of my late eftate. From this intelligence I inftantly deter- 
mined to return to England, to confute their villainies, and 
recover the goods. In the forenoon, Mr. Atchinfon (the mafter) 
Mr. Slack (the gunner of the Merlin) and Mr. Smith came here 
and fpent the day with us. Captain Packenham, the commander 
of the Merlin, was ordered by commodore Elliot, the Gover- 
nor of Newfoundland, to come herewith the Merlin to receive 
thofe arms; but he having put into Temple Bay fent thefe 
officers with four feamen by the above veffel, and waits their 
return there. Not knowing the land by the chart, they had 
pafled the harbour, and got near the Hare Iflands; wbep an 
Indian boarded them, and brought them in through Round 
lUand Tickle; which is a dangerous paftage for any veffel bigger 

than 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

than a fhallop, uniefs veiy well acquainted with it. Mr. At* 
chinfbn delivered me a letter from Captain Packenbam. One oi 
the Indian boats failed for Ivucktoke. 



187 



Mr. Collingham and I dined on board the Mary, and return- F"^ i4> 
ed home in the evening accompanied by the three gentlemen, ^^tt 
who fupped [with us. The Indian men went out a hunting, jv. {^s. 
but killed nothing; one of them faw two deer by Curlew Har- J*fl* 
bour, and another informed us that our Ihallop was in North 
Harbour. 

A very fine di^y. 

At fix this morning our Qiallop entered the harbour, and Suiui% 15. 
anchored here at eight : Ihe brought forty nitches of rinds, and %^l 
a load of building timber; alfo fome falted falmon, three freOi 
ones, a black-duck, and a whabby. Two Indians went up Cur- 
lew Harbour; they met with a female deer of two years, and ''«^" 
killed it. Another of them, killed a deer of the like kind, cm 
Venifon Head. The rinds and timber were landed. The two 
naval officers came on fhore in the evening and fupped with 
us. 

A fine day, but very hot; fome rain in the evening;, and fore 
part of the night. Then 72*. 



Three Indian men went off this morning, in our iealing- 
fltiff, for Curlew Harbour to bring home the deer, which -they 
killed there yefterday ; and at night, they returned with that, 
and alfo two hinds and their calves^ which they killed to-day; 
they faw feveral- other deer, and wounded one of them: they 
alfo law a fliallop, bound to the northward, in which we fup- 
pofe muft be thofe Indians who wintered upon the Ifle of Ponds. 
Mr. Smith, and the officers of the. Merlin, dined and fupped 
B fa 2- witbi 



Suw)a)r'46. 
K.Jrt/k. 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

with U9. The Iftdiatis gavte us a hihd ftfld at»lf. 
A'fihe dAy, but not fo bof te yeRtrdfcy. 

Our people afUfted the Indians to block up one of their fhal- 
bp9, that we might Impair it for them. I fem two liitid quar- 
ters of veni fori on board the Brig. Some kelp was carried into 
A*- '"'• the g^^en and other bufinefs done. For fonre time paft wc 
j^^ hive had radilhes, both red and white, lettuces &c. in the 
greateft abundance ; and as good as ever grew. 

It rained moft part of the day» and fometimes very hard. 
Then 6Q\ 

tuHaiy i8. SevetBl <^ the Indians caUie here this moming, to enquire 
^IJ^ (on an elderiy woman, who ran away from her hufband yefter- 
day in the afternoon, and who had carried two young chil-= 
f£i%n sAoVig with her. It ieenu, that Hie htid done tlie fame 
this fpHng when at Ivucktoke, and was abfent feveral days; 
and alfo, on Sunday laft ; but fhe returned yefterday morning, 
and her huCband behaved fo well to her, that we thought (he 
would have remained contentedly with him, I find, that jea- 
loufy is the caufe of her difcontent; for her hufband married 
ianother wife about four years ago, and has two children by 
her, alfo ; and this laft wife, being much younger than the other, 
jnmg i« is the favourite. Moft of the^ ihen and feme of the women 
were leeking this woman all day, and one of them got fight o/ 
her by the fide of North Harbour ; where he alfo found a fmall 
bad whigwham which flic: had made, on the top of which was 
a boot belonging to one of the children, but on fight of him 
Ihe ran into the woods with the children, and evaded the pur- 
fuit. The Mary moved into South-eaft Cove- Three hands 
were piling firewood, and Tilfed was repairing the Indian 
Ihallop,'" Frequent fqiaalls of wind and rain. Ther. 56*. 

Two 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. i8g 

Two parties, of a couple of men each, went out this morning, i " ■*' i 
in fearch of the woman and children, and one of them return- j«ir.' 
ed with them at fix in the evening; the other party returned ^'^ '9' 
at nine ; they faw a young male deer by the fide of Table Bay, s. w. h,s. 
but had no gun. Tilfed was repairing the Indian Ihallop; the •JT^Lt;. 
other three hands piled the remainder of the firewood, and „^Tatt. 
flowed away the beams, planks, and other things, which lay 
on the Ihore. Ther. 68*. "'^ 

Eketcheack, one of the Indian men, laft winter married a 

fecondwife; a young girl about Gxteen years of age: I look a 

fancy to her, and defired that he would fpare her for me, as I 

had no wife, and was in great want of one. He replied, "You 

" are very welcome to her, but I am afraid fhe will not pleafe 

" you, as her temper is very bad, and fee is fo idle, that fhe will 

I " do no work; nor can Ihe ufe a needle: but my other wife is 

'• " the beft tempered creature in the world; an excellent femp- 

,' " ftrefs, is induftry itfelf, and (he has two children ; all of which ■ 

i "are much at your fervice; or, if you pleafe, you (hall have 

■ " them both ; and, when I return next year, if you do not 

" hke either one or the other, I will take them back again.'' I 

thanked him for his extreme politenefs and generofity, and told 

him, that I could not think of depriving him of the good wife 

and two children, but would be contented with the bad one. 

" You (hall have her," faid he, " but before we proceed any 

" farther in this bufinefs, I with you would mention it to her 

" relations, and obuin their confent." Her father being dead, 

I lent for her mother and two uncles, who readily gave their 

confent, and exprelTed great pkafure at the honor of the alliance. 

I then communicated my wilhes to the young lady, but (he no 

fooner underllood what they were, than (he began to knit her 

brows, and the inttant I had concluded my fpeech, in which 

I expatiated on the pleafure, elegance, and affluence which (he 

would 



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190 THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

<— -Jj — I would experience as my wife, to what fhc enjoyed in her 
July. prcfent ftate, fhe contempUioufly replied. " You are an old 
" fellow, and I will have nothing to fay to you." So there 
ended my courtfhip ; and how petite foever any future reflifal 
may be, yet I muft underlland the literal meaning to be. as above 
exprefled. 



TfaurQay t«. 

Wind 
S. W. UtOt. 



Fridiy St. 
Wi N. W. 



Tilfed iiniOied the Indian fballop. The other three hands 
were clearing the ground to build a ftore-houfe upon. The 
gentlemen on board the brig came here and dined with us. One 
of the Indians killed a deer, and law three others. 

A very fine day ; fmall rain at night. 

At feven this morning I Tent Tilfed and William in the feal- 
ing-fkiff, to bring home fcnne of the traps. A large fhallop, 
fuppofed to be the Beaver, from Paradife, pafled by this har- 
bour, bound to the fouthward. A number of the Efquimaux 
are ill of moR violent colds, which they are very fubjed toj 
it carries oflF" great numbers of .them. The diforder being ih- 
fe£Uous Mr. CoUingham has got it alfo, which he tells me is- 
not the firft time, havii^ caught it of them formerly. Crane 
and Tom were clearing the ground, for the foundation of a 
Aore-houfe. I fcnt an Indian out to try for codfifli. but he 
could catch none; they are not yet come here. 

A very fine day. Ther. 67**. 



SattinJiyBa. At fivc this- momuig Tilfed and William returned with 
■** twenty-two traps; the Ikiff was aground laft night in Black- 
N.E,imUi guard Bay, when they got back to her from Hare Harbour, and 
as they had killed nothing, they had failed alTthe time that they 
fi^ were out. At nine this morning the brig went out of the har- 
bour through Weftern Tickle, and failed for Paradife. The 
xeafon why Ihe had lain here fdlong. was, on account of our 

refufing. 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

tefuflng to pilot her out oF the harbour; the mailer was 
therefore obliged to found it well, before he durft venture. 
Mr. CoUingham went on board her in the fmall punt, with 
two hands; then crofled the harbour to colled the traps on 
Mount Martin, and the High, and South Barrens ; he brought 
home twelve, and a young groufe alive, which we put under 
a hen, which has a fmall chicken. Tilfed was fhouldering fluds, 
and William clearing the ground for the ftore-faoufe. Another 
Efquimau boat failed for Ivucktoke. This was only a fmall 
baitfkiff, formerly mine ; yet after tilling her with baggage, 
two men, two women, three children, and nineteen dogs em- 
barked in her and took two kyacks in tow. 

A fine day, but the evening proved mifty, and it rained 
fmartly in the night. Ther. 56°. 

At ten this morning Tilfed and three hands failed, in the Fox, 
for Paradife, to cut a load of timber for building. Mr. Colling- 
ham forted and packed up fome goods, which two of our 
Indian friends are to take to the northern fettlements of the 
Efquimaux to fell for us. The young groufe, being hurt in 
bringing home, was found dead this morning. 

A foggy, moill, raw day. Ther. 46°. 




Sanda3r 13. 
S.S. £. 



If. E. Utile, 



At nine this morning, I went up Curlew Harbour, in the 
fealing-lkiff with four Indian men, a Ihooting; we returned 
at fix in the evening, but killed nothing. I fat watching 
the firll path, whilft they walked round the land, on the eaft- 
fide of the valley; they faw fome frefti flot, but could not get 
fight .of a deer. Mr. CoUingham delivered the remainder of 
.the goods tO'Our two friends, near half of which we have fold 
to them on credit; and the remainder, they are to fell on our 
account. 

The 



Monday S4. 

N.tiuU. 

N. E. 

£. majerati. 

S.E. 
S. S. V. 

madtraU. 



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ige THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

t — ^^ — I The cock and two of the hens, which Mr. Marcoux gav« to 
July. Mr. CoUingham, are ftill alive ; and have many peculiarities in 
them. The cock has the moft magnificent, rofy comb I ever 
faw, is a very majeftic bird, (but having no rump he confe- 
quently has no tail,) and he has lately amufed himfelf with 
clucking to the chickeos, in imitati<Hi c^ the hens. The hens 
kave rumps and tails, and fo have their hen chickens, but thfe 
cocks none. One of the hens has only a fingle chicken, which 
is a cock, whofe comb and wattles were very confpicuous at 
a fortnight old ; and at a month, he crowed every morning. 
i was told of rt Ibme days ago, but could not believe it, until 
I heard him do it feveral times this morning. The other hen, 
has iix chickens; three of which are cocks; they are now 
rather more than a fortnight old, and their combs and wattles 
appear. 

TFiere was a iharp froft with fog this morning, but the latter 
cleared away at eight o'clock, and the reft of the day proved 
warm and fine. 

''^**^ '5' This morning I found the cucumber-plants, (which were 
tmim. very healthy and likely ta thrive) killed by yefterday's froft, 
'tat'it.' All the remainder of the Indians failed this morning for the 

a.£.jTtjb northward. > 

A very fine, hot day. Ther._67*. 

Wejotr. t6. Laft night about twelve o'clock, the mofchetos being very 
a.w. null, troublefome, Mr. CoUingham got up and made fuch a fmoke 
in the kitchen, as in a (hort time filled every part of the houfe: 
fortunately I awoke juft in time to fave our lives; Mrs. CoUing- 
ham being quite over come with it, was carried out of bed 
into the open air in a Ufelefs ftate; diX the ceft of us were ob- 
liged 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 193 

liged to jump out of our beds, and run naked Out of doors; » — ^!^^^ 
where we were forced to remain above an hour, before the i*^y- 
fmoke was fufl&ciently cleared away for us to be able to en- 
dure it. 

After break&d Mr. Q)Uingham took Jack with him in the ^^^ 
feaiing-fkiif, and went out a fiOiing; he returned in the evening 
with a hundred and fixty feven codfifh; and he likewife {hot 
two pigeons. They caught but two fiDi at Mad-rock, and all 
the reft at Venifon Head Ifland-rock; moft of them with gig- 
gers. A fine, hot day. Ther. 82°. 



Mr. Collingham fplit and failed the fifti this morning; the T^^OiySr, 
Fals, he fpread round the cabbages for manure. At half paft 5. latk. 
feven in the evening the Fox returned with the officers of the 



Merlin.and their people; alfo the cannon, fmall-arms, and mili^ ■^^' 
tary ftores; likewife, as much timber as (he would hold. >««. 
From the infamous behaviour of Noble and Pinfon, to Mr. a s. w. 
Collingham and myfclf, I am determined to have as little con- m«^au. 
nexion with them as pofliblc; I therefore advifcd Meffrs. At- 
chinibn, and Slack to return in our boat, if they found the 
brig would not be ready to come away with them immediately; 
as William Pinfon told them (he would; which was faid with 
the fole intent of getting the Merlin's people to navigate her 
from Temple Bay and back (for he fent only the mafter and 
two hands in her.) When the arrived at Paradife there were 
but very few tierces of falmon packed, and it was fuppofed, 
that they had in all the rivers above feven hundred. By the 
Merlin's people coming away fome of the fiQiermen muft be 
taken off from their work to navigate the brig back to Temple 
Bay; and they will alfo be longer in packing their fifti. 

Clear and hot till noon, then cool, with hard rain for the reft 
of the day; in the evening, it cleared up. Ther. 66*. 
Vol. m. C c The 



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SaaAaf Jfi. 

mdtTMe. 
KM.?. 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

Ttit timhet'^iria liaded aad thie riilcts w<ere repacked. The 
Merlin's people went out a filbing in our targe Ikiff, and caught 
abont a hundred codfifh. I packed up feme of my baggage. 

A cloudy day. Ther. 56°. 

The tarpaulin was tak*n off the fouth-Weft end of the houfe ; 
the fods and old ritjds removed; new rinds laid on and fodded 
afrefh; and fome eriiply cafks put onboard the Fox. The 
officers of the Merlin and myfelf went a ihooting to Round 
Ifland in the yawl, with their four men; 1 killed two ducks 
and a tinker, which was all we got. 

A fine day. 

Having (hipped off the remainder of my baggsge, at noon, 
the officers of the Merlin and their people embarked with me, 
on board the Fox ; which was navigated by Tilled, Crane, and 
two of the eonviSs. When we came abreall of Cape North, 
being dofe to the wind and not above a cable's length from 
it, we were nearly becalmed (the wind beingdeadened againft 
the high bluff land) and there being a high confufed fwell. 
we were as near as polfible being heaved on Ihore upon the 
ifland fock, which lies clofe under the Cape; but, by the help 
of an oar, and the fmall punt a head, we cleared the rocks by 
not more than the boats breadth, and inimediately had a frelh 
breeze of wind. The punt was then ordered to be made fall 
a ftern, when 6ne of the Merlin's men negle6ling to fecurc the 
iow-rope properly. Die upfet with William in her, and he mull: 
have been drowned, had he not been an excellent fwimmer; 
we alio faved the punt and every thing belonging to her. 
When we came abreall of CoUingham Ifland, at five in the af- 
ternoon, the wind died away; and there being a fliort, quick . 
fwell, the cannon caufed the boat to roll fo deep and quick, 
that {he foon grew leaky ; I alfo thought, that Ihe would 

have 



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•THE SIXTH VOYAOP. 

have rolled iicr ,qialU away ai;i4 worfcod I^rfelf to siecei : 
and as the bottom of the boat was full of fmall bits, qr rather 
the fcales of fpruce bark, they fo choaked the pump that it 
would not work ; I therefore ordered Tilfed to bear up, and, 
with the alEftance of the punt, we palTed between CoUingham, 
and Cove Ifland; at eight o'clock came to an anchored the 
weft end of the latter, where we lay all night. 

At five this morning X fent Tilled and William to the fourii- M»»^y S'- 
eaft point of the ifland in the punt, to try for filh ; and at fix jsui. ' 
they returned with plenty. At feven we weighed anchor, and 
ran into South Harbour where we came to ag^in. The gun- 
iKr and two lailors now landed at the eaft point of Ledge Ifland, 
in order to drive into the water what deer there might be upon 
it i whilft I lay off the weft end, to intercept them with the punt: 
but they loon tired (as failois generally do when they are em- 
ployed on Ihore, and particularly if not in the neceii^ry bujinefs 
appertaining to the fiiip) and came down to the Ifaore, before 
they had beat a third part of the ifland; or we fliould certainly 
have feen deer, as there was plenty of frelh flot. On a finall 
duck-ifland, at the weft end of the harbour, I picked up four 
young faddlebacks. Tilled took up the pump and placed a bal- 
laft-bafliet under the heel of it, to prevent the fcales of bark fiom 
choaking)t again. A very fine day. 

Augufi. 

At feven this morning I went in the punt, with two hands, TucHij. u 
and examined the fouth fliore of the harbour, where I found a "*' 
cove, in which I think afiirrier might kill a few martens and 
foxes ; but faw only one rubbingplace, and that not very good i ^^^ 
the fliore is not proper for them, being very Ihallow for near a '"^ 
hundred yards off. I returned on board at elevep, when we 
weighed the anchor, and ran abpve the Gull Rock; which is 
Cca «1k 



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ic/S THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

r-^^J^ the fafeft place for boats, and were there is not more than one 
Au^. fathom of water. 

A very fine, hot day. 

wrfnef.i. After breakfaft Mr. Slack and three hands landed on Ledge 
tJim. Ifland, to drive a flag, which William thought he faw at day- 
break this morning, and I lay off the weft end in the punt: but 
ii.w.Sttb. jjjgy could find no deer, although they faw the frcfli flot of fe- 
' K.N.E, veral. This ifland is tibove two miles long» runs to a point at 
■^^' each end, and is near half a mile broad in the middle, where 
there is a high hill: towards the weft end there are foma open 
marfhes; but the reft of the it covered with ftunted bufhes 
of fpruce, fir> and larch; it is feldom without deer at any 
time of the year. 

At half after eight o'clock, we got under weigh and went to 
fea. On entering Indian Tickle, we had but little wind for near 
half an hour, when we let down our lines, and caught ten cod- 
lifli. From Indian Tickle, we kept on the north fide of the 
Ifle of Ponds; and at four in the afternoon* came to an anchor 
in a cove at the weft end of it. Mr. Slack, two of our people, 
immediately landed, and went after a brood of well-grown 
young gcefc, which landed and ran off from the ftiore, on 
perceiving the boat: but, although we faw them after we 
landed, they got over a fmall hill, and hid themfelves 
before we could get up to them; nor could we afterwards find 
one of them: neither the young nor old ones could fly; the 
latter, being now moulting. As our two men returned to the 
boat, they met with a white-fox under a rock by the fliore, and 
caught it alive. We few feveral flocks of curlews to-day, 
which arc the firft we haiw feen this feafon. We filled up our 
***'"*' water. 

A fine. 



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fiUTt, 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 197 

A fine day, but there was haze all round the horizon: and in t^~f^ — « 
the evening, there was much fog aloft. AuguO. 

At feven this morning we got under weigh, and worked to ^^'^^^'' 
windward on the weft fide of Porcupine iHands; when finding s. uuu, 
that we were not likely to beat up to the Seal Ifiands, we came 
to an anchor at half after one o'clock in Batteau Harbour, which 
is at the fouth-eaft point of the Ifle of Ponds. I fent Tilfed and 
one of the failors out a [hooting; they faw a wolf, killed a 
curlew, and picked up two large flag's horns, which had been mJtrau. 
mewed there. Mr. Atchinfon, Mr. Slack, and I went on fliore uuu. 
after dinner, and fauntered about near the harbour, where we 
faw fcveral curlews; I fhot at one of them, but miffed it. 

Very foggy till feven o'clock this morning, when it cleared 
up for the reft of the day; in the evening there was a thick 
haze, and we were almoft devoured by the mofchetos. 

At five this morning I fent two hands out in the punt to try Friday. 4, 
for filh, and they returned at feven with plenty of good cod. "^* 
After breakfaft Mr. Atchinfon went on Ihore to take a {ketch f"J^- 
of the harbour, and the iflands adjacent. Tilfed went a (hooting ««*»■ 
but got nothmg. Lwent in the punt- with twohands to the Dif- 
mal IQands, where I killed four tinkers. 

Clear, fine weather, till, three in the afternoon,. and< very 
foggy afterwards. 

At four this. morning we came to faiU and at feven were sawnkys^. 
through the Seal Iflands, when a thick fog came on ; and," as we ^- ^^"»-- 
faw abundance of large iflands of ice ahead of iis, we hauled the 
wind and: worked back again* through , the weftern pafla^e, to 
Mr. Marcoux's fcaling-poft; and anchored, there- at h'alFafter 
nine. Wt found fome of his people there, who entertained us 
with, fried eggs, and.foft bread^ad .butter. Mr, Marcoux was - 

gonej 



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THE SIXTH VOYACE. 

gonetoQoebec in his fctioonertopurchafeprovifions: hehadhad 
very bad fuccefs lall winter; having killed but nine feals, thirty 
deer, and few or no fan; and by laying his Ihallop (which 
coft him fixty pounds lall year) on Ihore under a high bank, 
""^ flie was cruQied to pieces by the weight of the fnow that was 
drifted upon her, 

^•,^pf:. At noon the fog clearing away we failed again through the 
wellem paOage, and at four came to an anchor in Venifon 
'Harbour; where we found a very good fealing-houfe, which 
had been built lall fall, by a crew belonging to Mr. Hyde 
of Poole; a new adventurer on this coaft. 1 fent the punt out 
a filhing, and Ihe loon returned with plenty of cod. Moft of 
the people lay on Ihore. I am now vefy lame again, and in 
fevere, continual pain. 
At five a thick fog came on again and continued all night. 

s<n«U7 6. Tilfed took a walk upon Stoney Ifland, but faw nothing. In 
"'*• the afternoon Mr. Thomas Slade arrived here in a Ihallop in 

s. s. "'■ fearch of baits, and foon after failed for Eagle Cove, where 
Mr. Hyde has lately built a filhing-room; it is in the Ibuth 
Cde of Hawke Ifland. In the evening, John Dean came in 
here in his bait-lkiff on the fame errand; as did alfo a bait-lkiff 

* of Slade's. From thofe people I learned that very few feals 

had been killed upon this coaft lall winter, but that deer were 
never known to be in fuch plenty; the crew at this place had 
killed near thirty, and mod other winter-crews had killed 
leveial. The codfifh alfo had been fo fcarce this fummer, 
that few people ate likely to kill a faving voyage. 
A fine day, but it rained hard molt part of the night. 

Uimi^f, At fix this morning we weighed anchor, and towed out of 
"^' the harbour; when a thick fog coming on we returned. At 

eleven 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

eleven we failed again; and at eight at night, arrived in Square 
Ifland Harbour i where I bad the pleafure to find all our fup- 
plics from England on board a brig belonging to Mr. Tory, of 
Poole; who has eflabdi£hed a codfilhery here, on the room which 
was formerly mine ; being driven out of White Bay, in New- 
foundland, by the French, that part of the Ifland being widiin 
the diftrift ceded to them by the laft Treaty of Peace. 

We met with feveral hundred large iflands of ice, between 
Venifon Harbour and this place, which makes the navigation 
extremely dangerous in fc^gy weather. 

Variable weather. 




if. E. fy N. 



At five this morning we failed for St. Francis Harbour and TueGfaj «. 
arrived there at eight. I landed twenty empty hogflieads to ^Vj^ 
be trimmed, and defired they might be done by fuch time as 
the boat ihould return from Temple Bay. 

Dull weather with fome fog in the morning. 



Wadnef. 9. 



We failed at four this morning, and at five came to an an- 
chor in Battle Harbour; where I found a letter from Mr. Letter^ 
another from Mr. George Garland, and a third from Mr. Moles 
Cheater ; alfo three newfpapers. A very poor voyage of fifli 
has been killed at this place, but they are now pretty plentifijl. 

A clear day. 

We went to fea at four this morning, with a light air of wind, t^^»^^ >•* 
and at half after one in the afternoon arrived in Temple Bay, 
and anchored near the Merlin Sloop of War. I immediately «/«. 
waited on captain Edward Packenham, the commander, . and »tdtr«t. 
requefted of him to give me a patlage to St. John's in New- 
foundland, which he very poUtely conlented to, and added, 

«Whatcven 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

i^^ ** Whatever the Merlin affords, you may command.'* But I 

Auguft, foon found, that had not his officers kindly accomodated me, 

I muft have flept in the gaily and meffed with the pigs: for- 

J^iMe. 'unately for me, however, the gunner gave me his cabin, and 

the gentlemen of the gun-room received me into their mefs. 

^.(^^ I immediately got my bed on board the fhip, and continued in 

her. 

Fair till noon, fmall rain after. 

Friday 11. ^1 my baggage was brought on board the Merlin. My fci- 
atic pains are now fo fevere, that I am unable to walk the length 
of the quarter-deck. 

Mimday 14. Our fliallop failed this morning before day-light for Quirpon, 

H.jkttTU in the ifland of Newfoundland ; having hitherto waited for a 

ff If ^ fuitable wind : and as it blew ftrong all day, with a great fea, 

J^«w I feel anxious for her fafety. 

wdner. 16. At eight o'clock this morning the Merlin got under weigh, 

*"/tX *"*^ attempted to get to fea; but, not being able to effeft it, 

A^£. (lie anchored again. 

s,s.E. A very great fea in the ftreights and along Qiore. 

Friday 18. At three o'clock this afternoon our ftiallop returned from 
s.^rmg Quirpon, when Tilfed informed me, that Thomas Connor (one 
of my convifts) got on fhore yefterday morning at Quirpon, 
and ran away; in confequencc of which he had been detained, 
or he Ihould have been here lad night ; and that not being able 
to find him again he was obliged to come without him. 

Satuiday 19. At day-light our fliallop failed for St. Francis Harbour, in her 

^ir. way home. At nine o'clock ,we began to heave, and at ten the 

' Merlin 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 



Merlin was fafe out of the harbour. At dark we were abreaft 
of Red Bay. I began to take gum guaiacum piHs to night for 
my fciatica. 
Foggy in the morning, and cloudy during the reft of the day. 

We were turning to windward between Red Bay, and L'ance 
a Loup alt day, which was very foggy except for a fliort time 
about noon, when the fog thinned a little. In the forenoon we 
were very near running on fhore on the Labrador fide of the 
ftreights; but fortunately we difcovered the breakers juft time 
enough to heave about. We lay to all night with our head to 
the fouthward. 



Sundiy 3«) 
W. S. Wi 

Hub. 

medtratt. 



At day-light the (ky being clear, we found ourfelves oflF St. 
Modcfte, about two leagues from, the land ; and at three in the 
afternoon we anchored in the bay of L'ance a Loup. At five 
captain Packenham, feme of his officers, Mr. Hine, and I went 
on Ihore to Hine's houfe; Hine is fon-in-law to Pinfon the 
partner of Noble, and their agent at this place: he came paf- 
fenger on board the Merlin from Temple Bay. Captain- Pack- 
enham was fo civil to- this mailer of a fifliing brig, as to acco- 
modate him with a bed in his cabin, and the run of his table, 
although he declined fliewing fo much politenefs to me. All 
of us, except Hine, returned on board in the evening. 

Threeof the officers of the Merlin andldined with Mr. Hine, 
and % heavy gale of wind coming on in the evening we were 
obliged to remain on Ihore for the night.- 

Hard rain all day, and in the evening, the wind flew round 
fuddenly, and blew very hard all night, with thick fog. 

The lieutonaM and afling lieutenant were feat off to-day in 
boats to vitit the fiOiecies in this nei^bourhood; one of them 
Vol. m. D d to 



Monday ii. 



meJtrattt 
Jrejt. 



TueClay as. 

S./mart, 



Wedref. 13. 
S.fman. 



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Monday s8. 

a. s. w. 



TWlilay S9, 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

to the eaftward, the other to the weftWard. At dark a large 
iiland of ice drove direftly for the fhip ; but, by bending a 
hawfcr to the cable, and veering upon it, fhe got clear; other- 
wife (he mull have been gready damaged, if not funk, as there 
was a great fwell in the bay. 

The land hereabouts looks well to the eye, being clear of 
wood; the hills rife gradually, but not high, exhibit great 
verdure, and an appearance of more fertility than I have ever 
fcen on any other part of the coaft. In the valley where No- 
ble and Pinfon's fiftiery is carried on is a garden in which 
every thing grows more luxuriantly than I ever faw before in 
this country; and I alfo obferved great plenty of fcarlet ftraw- 
berries growing wild among the grafs. Curlews are now 
abundant and fat; I killed one. The fifliery has proved very 
indiflferent here this feafon. 

A very fine day throughout. 

The boats being returned, and captain Packenham having 
finifhed his bufinefs at this place, we went to lea at eight this 
morning, and at one o'clock came to an anchor in Forteau Bay. 
I went on Ihore to Mr. Durrell's houfe, where I ftaid the night; 
he is agent to a Jerfey company. Several planters live here 
who, dividing their winter bulinefs between this place and the 
oppofite part of Newfoundland, do tolerably well for them- 
felves. 

Some rain fell in the forenoon, but the reft of the day was fine. 

I returned on board at eight this morning, at which time the 
fhip was under weigh; we immediately went to fea, and at five 
o'clock arrived in the harbour of Blance Sablon, where another 
Jerley company have a filhery. Several American whalers 
were lying at anchor at the back of the Ifle de Bois, and had 

Bakes 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 203 

flakes on fhore to cure fifh upon ; for not having had any '~~^ — ' 
fuccefs with whales they were catching codfilh. As they now AuguO. 
dare not carry tlieir fi(h to the European markets, for fear of 
the Barbary rovers, they are fent up to their own back-fettle- 
ments, where they fetch good prices. This circumftance 
auonifhes me greatly, as I Ihould fuppofe that thofe people 
rnufl: have plenty of provifions from their own farms and 
catch abundance of fi(h in the lakes and rivers. 

We fhould have failed to-day, but could not break ground; Wedncf. 30. 

.... , , ^ >* Wind 

It blowmg too hard. k hyWi 

At four this morning we went to fea and failed for Port Thurfdaysi. 
Saunders ; a harbour on the oppofite coaft of Newfoundland, ^'^tu.' 
a little to the weft ward of the ftreight's mouth. Four American 
vefiels failed at the fame time for the Bay of IQands. . We were 
turning to windward all day and night, having fine^ weather 
although cold. The gale of wind, which we had on the twenty 
■fecond may be faid to have killed the fummer, for the weather 
has never fince had that warm foftneis in it, which it had be- 
fore, nor will it again, before the latter part of hext June. 

We wer6 turning to windward all day, nor did I percieve September. 
the Merlin to be fo capital a failer as I was given to underftand sT^V.* 
fhewas, but really thought her a very indifferent one. At -^"^ 
five in the afternoon we weathered Point Rich, and ftiould in 
all probability have loft the ihip, had I not taken the liberty of 
- giving my opinion and advice unafked, and convinced captain 
Packenham and his mafter, that what they took for Port Saun- 
ders, and were running into, was only a wild, fhoal cove, or f^n. 
fmall bay, out of which they never could get until the wind" 
fliifted; and that if ver)' little more came from the fame quarter, 
the fljip would certainly be driven oh fhore and loft. I alfo 
D d 2 (hewed 



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2o4 THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

;-— '^- — » fhewed them the entrance of Port Saunders, but had fome 
Auguii. difficulty to fatisfy them on thofe points; for, as I had never 
been here before, they could not fuppofe it poffible for me to 
know the land better than themfelves, (having nothing but 
the late captain Choice's charts to go by) or that they could be 
fo very greatly miflaken in the place. But having long been 
ufed to run along thore by the charts, and all thofc for this 
part of the worid being very good ones, I feldom found myfcif 
millaken, and happened to be right now. At feven o'clocfc 
we anchored in Port Saunders, and found lying here one 
French fliip (the reft having failed for France) which will 
carry fix thoufand quintals of fifh; but the feafon has been 
ib bad, that with twenty boats and an hundred men, they have 
killed only twelve hundred. Here was alfo an Englilh Ihal- 
lop, which four villains had run away with from St. John's ia 
Newfoundland this laft fpring; captain Packenham fent the 
lieutenant on board and feized her; three of the fellows got 
on Ihore, as ibon as they percieved the Merlin entering the 
harbour ; but the other remained in the boat, and was brought 
on board the Merlin, where the captain kept him a prifoner. 

Port Saunders is an excellent harbour, with plenty of ufeful 
wood in it, and no want of frelh water. Here are two French 
fifliing-rooms, one on each point at the entrance; both are con- 
venient, and very good for curing fifli. There is alfo another 
French room upon Kepple Ifland, which lies off the mouth of 
Hawke Harbour, and feparates that, from this. The country 
here abouts looks well for beavers, otters, and martens. 

A very fine day. 

swir&jr 9. After breakfaft the furgeon, lieutenant of marines, and my- 
%^^ felf, went on (bore to the French fiifiiing-room on the north 
^"v- gde^ where we were very politely received by captain GuiU 

mio,. 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

min, who was a lieutenant in the French navy lail war. He 
bad a fmall, but luxuriant garden, in which he had fown 
fome hemp and buck-wheat; the former was not above five 
feet high, but the latter was as ftrong as I ever faw any in Ger- 
many, where they grow a great deal ; the foil is black peat. 
One party of men were fent on fhore to brew fpruce-beer for 
the fhip ; another to fill the empty water-calks ; and a third up 
the harbour to catch lobfters ; they brought on board about 
thirty. 

It blew fo hard to-day that the fliip muft inevitably have 
been loft, had we run info the (boal bay, between this place 
and Point Rich. 



205 



The furgeon, lieutenant of marines, and I went on (hore, 
and dined with captain Guilmin. 

Rained hard in the morning, fair afterwards. 



Sunday 3. 
mad S. W. 
maitraU, 



Captain Guilmin came on board the Merlin, and dined with 
us in the gun-room. A Ihallop from St. Modeft, and another 
from Forteau came in here to-day: by the former we were 
informed, that two (hallops, belonging to Noble and Pinfon, 
which were going from Temple Bay to L'ance a Loup, were 
caught in tlie gale of wind on the twenty-fecond of lafl month, 
and both were loft, together with all hands; amounting to thir- 
teen men. A pariy of men having been fent out to catch lob'»- 
fters, they returned with three hundred. 

Foggy and wet weather.. 

The brewers and wood-cutters were at work for the fiiip. . 
A fine day. 

It rained hard all the forenoon, . but the afternoon was feir; 
£eavy gales all day. . 

I. went 



MoDcUy 4. 
£. N. E. 
nuderatt. 



Tuefiby 5, 
a: W.fnjk. 



Wednef. 6. 
5. £. hard. 
S. IT. hard, . 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

I went on fhore and dined with captain Guilmin. As two 
of his men were out a {hooting, a httle way in the country near 
the head of Hawke Harbour, they were met by eight moun- 
taineer men and a woman, belonging to the Labrador tribes; 
who not only robbed them of their arms, but even ftripped them 
almofl naked. 

Fine weather till the evening, when the Iky became cloudy, 
and Ibme fmall rain fell. 



Friday 8. 
£. N. £. 



After breakfaft we began to unmoor, and at half paft ten got 
out of the harbour. We ran along fhore to the fouthward all 
day, with a frefh breeze, but it came ahead at night, and put 
us upon tack. 

It rained hard during the early part of the morning; fmall 
feud and haze the reft of the day. 



We ftood to the fouthward all day, and in the evening made 
the land, but could not difcover where we were. At fix o'clock 



Saturday 9. 

Z^Z'. "^ tacked and ftood off. 

Dull weather, threatening a gale. 



Sanday 10. At four thiS moming we wore fhip and ftood in; made the 
w-ivs. land again, but did not know it; we were a great diftance off. 
We ftx)od off again from two o'clock till eight at night, when 
■''^' the wind having Ihifted a little, we ftood in again. 
■"*'«'• Rained in the morning, hazy with fun at times afterwards, 
if.fyN. and a tolerable night. 



Monday tt. 
Jf.£.litUe. 



N.J»/k. 



We faw the land this morning, but it was noon before we 
could make out where we were, when we found ourfelves 
abreaft of the Bay of Iflands; diftant about five or fix leagues. 
We ran along fliore all day, with tolerable clear weather, till 
two o'clock; notwithftanding there was a fmall fog-bank lying 

near 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 



207 



near the horizon, particularly from north-weft to eaft ; it rained t — ^7 — » 
the reft of the day, and threatened bad weather: but after Septatier. 
dark the fky cleared and we had a fine night. My pains for 
fome time paft have been moft intolerable, both by day and 
night. 



Windjreng. 



Having edged off Ihore all night, we could but juft fee the TueWiy n. 
land at fun-rife this morning, and Oiaped a courfe for Cape m^r'au. 
Ray. In the evening we heaved to dole to the land, and an offi- 
cer was fent on fliore to enquire what land it was: he brought 
word that it was Gjd-roy Ifland, a little to the fouthward of 
Cape Anguiile. -He alfo learnt that Prince William Henry had 
been three weeks in the harbour of Port au Bafque, to which 
we are bound, and was there three days ago. The fiftiery 
has proved very bad in thefe parts alfo. We lay to moft part 
of the night, for fear of running paft our port. ,,.,^. 

A very fine day. 

Standing in for the land this morning, we fetched about two wednef. 13. 
miles to leeward of Cape Ray, where we tacked and flood off s-^- ^- 
again. The extremity of Cape Ray is a low, flat point; clofe 
to 'v%;^ich is the moft remarkable fugar-loaf hifl I ever faw: it 
rifes fo very fteep to a fliarp point, that the fides are ftreaked 
with fmall ftones by the rain waftiing away the earth. 

It was fair, and the clouds lifted a little between nine and 
eleven this morning, but the refl: of thefe twenty -four hours. 
were rainy with fog. 

Early in the morning we ftood in for tlie land and at> noon Thurfday 14. 
heaved to off Cape Ray, w'len an ofticer was fent on fliore to ^:^„'*'- 
enquire were Port au Balque was, and to get a pilot; he re- 
turned at two without one. We then bore away, and having 
paffed Cape Enrag^e' he was feat off again, and foon after a 

fkiff. 



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208 THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

I— ^j-J^ — • fkiff came out of Grand Bay and furaifhed us with a pilot, 
Septcfflbw. who navigated the flbip into Port au Bafque road, where we 
anchored at five in the evening. Coming from the north-weft. 
Port au Bafque may be known by Point Blanch; which is a 
white, bluff rock, of a moderate height, lying at the extremity of 
a long, narrow point of land, between which is a fmall harbour 
for Ihallops, and there are many iflands, rocks, and breakers to 
the north-weft of it. Point Blanch forms the north-weft fide 
of the bay, in which Port au Bafque is fituated. Cape Ray, 
or rather the fugar-loaf hill within it, makes like an illand from 
every point of view, except you are rig^t off to fea. It was 
very foggy in the morning early, but the reft of the day proved 
tolerably fine at fea, though the fog hung over the hill tops 
and we had a few Jhort Ihowersof rain. Off Point Blanch, an 
old man came on board to offer his fervices as a pilot, who 
is ninety years of age; fixty three of which he has hved in 
Newfoundland. We found no fhip in Port au Bafque; the 
Rofe frigate had lain here moft part of the fummer, but had 
failed. 

■ Friday 15. At day-light this morning the ftiip was warped into the har- 

N^w^iittU. '^"'"» 3"^ moored. The mafters of two Jerfey fifhing veflels, 

which are lying in Grand Bay, came on board to get fome 

provifions, being Ihort. Poor voyages of filh have been killed 

hereabouts. 

Rain in the morning with fome fqualls of wind; but the reft 
of the day was fine. 

Siturfjjr 16. Xhe lieutenant of marines and I went round the harbour in 
s. modtrau. ^ j^^^ ^ ftiooting, but killed nothing; we gaffed up a few 
lobfters. The brewers were landed, to brew for the ftiip. 
A fine day. 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 



209 



A Tailor who had run away from the Rofe frigate, came on 
board and furrendered himfelf. The long boat was fent out a s^it^tier. 
fifhing and caught a few cod. Every man who chofe it had w«J^' 
liberty to go on Qiore to-day. 

Good weather. 






One of the Jerfey matters came on board aud informed us» Mond^ 18. 
that fome of the men who were on fliore yeflerday, had fwum miocmt. 
on board a Jerfey banker, which was at an anchor on the other 
fide of the narrow neck of land; and finding no body on board, 
had (lolen fome money^ liquor, and other things. Three of 
them were found out, and put in irons. 

A very fine day. 

This momiqg the three prifoners were brought to the gang- Tueiibyig. 
way and received two dozen lafhes each. A party went out .^jJ^u. 
a ihooting along with the pilot and returned in the evening s.s.w.utut. 
with four young geefe. 

A cloudy day with fog at fea. 

Thick fog with rain all day, and it appeared to blow pretty Wednef. ao. 
hard at fea. The Qiip, being moored lengthways of this har- ^"jf* 
hour, rode with her (lern within her own length of the (hore; 
had it blown much harder, fhe would moft likely have ftruck, 
by the ftretchipg of her cables. 



s. s. E. 

Jtrmg 



I have now the pleafure to find myfelf confiderably better ThurflayBi. 
of my fciatica, but very weak from my loins downwards: this 'luiu. ' 
favourable change I muft attribute to the guaiacum pills, which 
I have taken every night fince the nineteenth of laft month. t.>9* 
There was a very great fea along (hore ; the funken rocks in t, or g^ 
the bay broke very high. Three of the fhips company went 
out a fhooting yefterday to the north-eaft, and having loft ' ji^. 
Vol. III. E e themfelves 



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Sararday 29- 
I. S. E. 

Sunday >4. 
If. E. fy E. 



heavy gaUi. 
JfMg. 

tuieroH. 



Mflnfay E5. 
, iV. M W. 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

themfelves in the fog, did not return till this morning. They 
faw feven deer, and fired at them with fliot. 

The fore part of this day was dear and warm, but the latter 
cloudy and cold. 

A dull day with a little fog; fmall rain in the evening. 

A feven this morning it began to blow moderately, but in- 
creafed to an hard gale by ten : the Iheet anchor was immediate 
ly let go, and the Ihip made as fnug as poflible. At eleven, 
the long-boat broke from her moorings and drove on Ihore; 
the prize punt which was allern filled ; her ftern was then torn 
out and Ihe went on Qiore Ukcwife; the dream anchor was let 
go as an additional fecurity, and axes were laid ready to cut 
away the malls, if any of the three anchors which Ihe rode by, 
came home, or the cables parted. At noon, it blew a perfeft 
hurricane, withfuchafea as no man would believe there could 
have been in this harbour. The lieutenant of marines was 
near being blown over-board from off the quarter-deck, and 
no man could {land without heading. Had this gale come 
irom the fouth louth-eall, the Ihip mud inevitably have been 
lod, as (he would hftve tailed on Oiore and beat to pieces 
againit the rocks. The violence of the gale continued till feven 
in the evening, when it began to abate, and by ten "o'clock at 
night, the wind was pretty moderate. Much rain all day but 
the night proved fine. 

The long-boat and punt were brought on board j the former 
had received no other damage than two of her planks being 
driven out, by the weight of the water, which broke into iier 
as (he lay on Ihore, and a few rubs on her keel; the latter had 
received no other hurt than what was perceived yellerday. 
The pilot came on board and informed us, that the Jerfey 

velfeli 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. ail 

veflek. and alfo fome ihallops which lay io Grand Bay, were < — f^^ 

on (bore. Sepwrabcr, 

Clear weather m general to-day, but we had fome flight 
Ihowers of rain. 

We got up the yards and topmafts, and both boats were re- '^"'^y/^- 
paired. The mafters of two of the Jerfey veffels came on 5. w. aitit. 
board and reported that one of the veflels was got off without ~ 
having received any pcrceptable damage, and they expeft- 
ed to get another off to-morrow; but that the banker was 
bulged, and they doubted whether flie could be got off or not; 
that a fliallop belonging to a planter who lived in the harbour 
off La Poile, and had arrived there the twenty-third to buy 
provifions for the winter, was beat to pieces; another, be- 
longing to the old man, had been upfet at her moorings and 
was greatly damaged; alfo that a good deal of dry-^fli was 
fpoiled on Durant's Ifland, where the Jerfey fiOiery is carried 
on, and a ficiff which lay on the Ihore, keel upwards, had 
been blown almoft acrofs the ifland, and would have been 
driven clear over into the fea, had flie not fallen into a hollow $. £, ntu*. 
place. The old man and the pilot came on board and all of 
them declared that they had . not known fo heavy a gale of 
many years. In the evening, I took a fliort walk upon the 
largeft; of the two iflands which make this harbour, and on 
which there formerly was a fifliery carried on from Jer- 
fey. 

A fine day. 

There was a very thick fog till noon to-day, during which w^dnef. bt. 
lime every thing was got off from the ftiore: the wind then s. e. 
fliifting, the flty cleared and at half after one, we began to 
unmoor; our anchors were at the bows by four o'clock, and N.tr.moitrau 
we got to fea with a pleafant breeze and fine, clear weather. 
£ e 2 Not 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

Not having had much wind laft night. Cape Ray wai in fight 
this morning. There was a thick fog for an hour at noon, but 
the reft of the day was clear over head; yet there was low ft^ 
round the horizon, which prevented our keeping fight of the 
land fo long as we otherwife fliould have done. 



We founded feveral times to-day on St. Peter's bank, but 
the fog prevented our feeing that ifland. 
Thick fog mod part of the day; in the afternoon it rained for 
jv. w.frtfi, fome time, and in the evening, on the (hifting of the wind, the 
iky cleared. 



Friday 19. 

S. a. IF. 

to W. S. W. 

frejk. 



Saturday 30. 

N.E.hE. 

fnjh. 



Oflober. 
Sunday 1. 



Mcfwky a. 



At noon we faw the land, which we fuppofed to be from 
Cape St. Mary to Point Lance ; but as a haze hung over it, we 
could not be certain. 

Dull, with fog at times all day, but when the wind fhifted at 
night the fky cleared. 

At day-break we faw the land from Cape Race to Cape Bal- 
lard; we ftood in for it, and at noon were within two miles of 
the Ihore, and bore away along it. In the evening, being off 
Caplin Bay, captain Pellew of the Winchelfey frigate, which 
was lying in that harbour, came on board in his boat, and re- 
turned again at night. 

A very fine day, but fome fog came on in the evening. 

At day-break we ftood into Petty Harbour Bay, to- within 
half a league of the harbour, then bore away round CapeSpear, 
where we got a pilot on board, and at nooq came to an anchor 
at the back of the fouth head of the narrows of St. John's Har- 
bour; a tow-line was then carried out to the firft warping buoy, 
and in the courfe of the day the (hip was warped into the har- 
bour. While the above fcrvice was perfonuingf I took the 

opportunity 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 213 

opportunity of getting on board a fifhing boat, which was turn- ''"^^ — ' 
ing in, and went on {hore in her. I immediately waited on my oaobw. 
friend Richard Routh cfquire, Colleftor of the Cuftoms, and 
was received in the moll cordial and friendly manner. I found 
here his Majefty's Ihip Salifbury, of fifty guns, on board of 
which is admiral Elliot's flag; flie is commanded by captain Gore, 

I have now the pleafure to find myfelf completely cured of 
the fciatica, and only a trifling weaknefs remaining ; chiefly un- 
der my left ham. I took up my quarters at the London Tavern, 
which is the bell houfe, and a very good one it is for New- 
foundland. 

After breakfafl I went on board the Merlin, brought mofl Tnefdayg; 
of my baggage on fliore, and took my leave of captain Pack- sl'e. 
enham and his officers ; the latter I Ihall always remember with 
pleafure, for their civility to me: but as to^he former, I cannot 
fay that my obligations to him, are any great burthen to me. 
Mr. Routh took me with him to Mr. Ogden's the furgeon of the 
ifland, where- we fat down, a party of ten, to a very genteel fr^jt. ' 
dinner; after which we played atcards and fupped. 

This was a. delightful day. 

Prince William Henry was here this fiimmer, and by Ms - 
affability and politencfs, gained the aflfeftions of all ranks of peo- 
ple. But his conduft on a particular occafibn, being fuch as 
mull refleO: alafting honoron the chara6ter of his Royal High- ■ 
\ nefs, I mufl give it a place in my Journal; in order, that I may 
occafionally refrefh my memory with a.tranfadion, .which.! ; 
{hould be forry to forget. 

The Judge of the Admiralty, Juftice Gill, {a man whofe • 
public conduct, in no one inftance that ever came to my know- 
ledge, . 



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214 THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

I — "^ — > ledge, did credit to his public charafter) had, by means of his 
oa^r. deputy, made a very illegal feizure of the property of a poor 
boat-keeper .in an adjacent harbour. This Son of Poverty was 
incapable of obtaining redrefs by any other means than by 
bringing his caufe to a hearing in the Court of Admiralty, where 
Gill himfelf prefided, but he was too illiterate to plead for him- 
felC nor was Council to be had. His Royal Highnefs, therefore, 
moft readily and nobly ftept for^vard, undertook to be his ad- 
vocate, and adually pleaded his caufe; and that, in fo- forcible 
a manner, painting in the ilrongell colours the infamous and 
• illegal proceedingsof theprincipalandhisdeputy, thatCillcon- , 
demned the latter in full damages and cofts of fuit. Thus, by 
a princely and noble benevolence, an honeft, and much injured 
man was faved from utter ruin. 

Wedrer.^i I waited on His Excellency John Elliot cfquire, the Go- 
vernour of Newfoundland, to whom I was introduced by Mr. 
Routh; he invited us both to dine with him on the morrow. I. 
dined to-day in company with fome of the officers and young 
gentlemen of the Merlin at the London Tavern. 
A very fine day. 

FromthesA I dined with the Governor on the fifth, and all the reft of 
codiciBtli. jjjy ^^g while I remained here was moft agreeably fpent; as I 
met with the greateft civilities from all the principal people (ma- 
ny of whom I was formerly acquainted with, when I was here . 
in the Guernfey Man of War in the years 1766 and 1768J 
dining and fpcnding the evening in private families every day. 
The two laft days I fpent on board the Echo Stoop of War; 
the firft with the officers; the fecond with captain Reynolds, 
who appears to be in every fcnfe of the word, a Gentleman; 
and, in my opinion, nothing can be a ftronger proof of it, than 
the univcrfal terms of attachment and approbation in which his 
officers conftantly fpoke of him. 

When 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 215 

When a captain of a Man of War unites the gentleman with (""T^^ 
the officer, he will always advance to the utmoft, both the honw Oflobcr. 
and intereft of his king and country; for he not only attaches 
every man under his command to the fervice, but alfo to him- 
fclf ; confequently he is never deferted in time of aflion, or in 
other fervice of danger. Such men are feldom known to want 
courage, and are never above hearing the opinions of their 
officers on all points of confequence ; but thofe who behave 
in a tyrannical and ungentleman-like manner, are fare to diigufl 
every man with the fervice, who is unfortunate enough to be 
under their command, and to drive thofe of fpirit and indepea^* 
dence out of it. And as they are obeyed with fear and hatred 
only, they are often deferted, when in moft need of fupport. 

I was aftoniflied to obferve the difference between the man- 
ners of the inhabitants, and alfo the face of the country now^ 
and what they were when I was here formerly. Many 
,elegant houfes are built; the merchants live comfortably, and- 
cven luxurioufly; the numbers of fettlers are greatly increafedi * ■ 

abundance of horfes are kept; the country is cleared, and un- 
der cultivation for a great diftance from the town; great plenty 
of potatoes, barley, oats, &c. are grown; and the crops appear 
to be as fine, as the fame fort of foil would, produce in England. . 

General Benedift Arnold (who lately came here from New Timriii»y .9.. 
tfi-unfwick in a cutter of his own) and I having hired -the cabin jv Sia/,. 
of the brig John, belonging to Tinmoulh, Joho Bartlet owner 
and maftcr, embarked on board of that veffci at two o'clock this 
afternoon; as did hkewife the general's fervant, and a hundred. 
and eleven difcharged ,fifliermen,exclufive of the fhip's com- 
pany,coiififtingof tenmen; making in the whole a hundred and 
twenty-four. We laid in for our own ul&, two live Iheep, fe- 
veral head of.poultry, plenty of vegetables, and good ftore of 

every. 



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2i6 THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

'""1^86 — ' every other article which we thought requifite for our paf- 
oaober. fage to England. Nothing material happened, till Sunday the 

Sunday aa, twcttty fccond, wheji a hard gale of wind came on; however, 
we bore the violence of it tolerably well till ten o'clock the next , 
night, when our boltfprit was carried away. This was foon 
followed with the lofsof the fore-maft, and main-mail; the 
'"'^'^ tiller went next; twoof the deadlights were beat out; the taf- 
rael carried aT\'ay ;• fome calks of water, coals, and in fliort 
every thing walhed off the quarter-deck; our flieep were 
drowned in the long-boat ; and our poultry, together with all 
our vegetables, except the potatoes which were in the cabin, 
were walhed over-board. The wreck of the bolt-fprit and 
fore-mafl:, by the lee rigging not being cut, ftill hung to us; 
and, the veflel being forced over them, they kept beating un- 
der the bottom for feven hours: when, by the Ipirited exer- 
tions of the mate, they were cut away. Never did I experience 
fuchanight; the fea ran incredibly high; it blew men: tre- 
mendoufly; we expefied, that the fea would have beat the 

Tuefity 24. vefTel to pieces, and feared every inftant, that fhe would be 
bulged by the wreck, and fink with us. At length day-light 
came, but it ftill continued to blow fo hard, that nothing more 
could be done, than to fet up a top-gallaat-maft abaft, lalh it 
to the timber-heads, and hoift a (lay-fail to it, to keep the 

WeaDcf. 25. veflel fome what fteadier. We were then but four hundred 
and ninety five miles from St. John's ; and, as we judged it 
impoflible to get back there, by reafon of the prevalence of 
the wefterly winds, we determined on proceeding towards 
England ; we alfo intended to quit the veffel, if we fliould be fo 
fortunate as to fall in with any other, which would take us on 
board. The day following we began to get up jury-mafts. 
but it was five days before we completed that bufinefs, and 
were very badly rigged at laft, having only the main 
boom for a fore-maft; a top-maft for a main-maft; with a 

pole 



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Moodajr <7, 
K.fF. 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 217 

pole of firewood on it for a top-maft, and a top-gallant-mafl < — -^^ — 1 
abaft, to keep her nearer to the wind. Some days after, we November. 
made afhort maft of planks, and fleped it through a hole cut 
in the quarter-deck, by way of a mizzen-mall. Our fails were 
very few, and thofe both old and bad ; nor had we any to re^ 
place them, in cafe they gave out. We examined the quantity 
of water and provifions, and went to an allowance of three 
half pints for each paffenger, and double that quantity for the 
fhip's company. But twelve days after, we reduced the paC- 
fengers to a'pint of water, and the Ihip's company to a quart. 
We had fcarcely any remiffion for hard gales of wind, from 
fouth-eafl to fouth fouth-weft, for five weeks, which drove us 
into the latitude of 56' — 15^ north, which is quite out of the 
track of all (hipping, nor could we fetch any land as the wind 
then was, except Icelander Greenland; and thofe countries ^"' 
were locked up in froU and darknefs. At lad, to our no fmall 
joy, on Monday the twenty feventh of November, it pleafed 
God to fend us a fine north-weft wind, which continued fair 
for us during the reft of the voyage. On Thurfday the thirtieth 
we ftruck foundings in fixty-five fathoms of water, between 
Cape Clear and Scilly ; and there faw adifmafted, and aban^ 
doned veflel. Wc fent our boat on board her, but got only 
a few kegs of water; her provifions and fails having been all Deeember. 
taken out. She was the Hopewell from Newfoundland, laden ^"^^ *' 
with dry filh, and belonged to Poole. -Our allowance of wa- 
ter was doubled to-day; the next day, it was encreafed to three 
pints; and we faw another veflel upon a wind far to leeward. 
On Saturday the fecond of December,, we law feveral veflels 
ahead, and one on our ftarboard quarter which came up with, 
and rpoke us; Ihe was a fmall fchooner from Twillingate, in 
Newfoundland, to Poole ; had been out twenty four days, and 
had met with no other, than wcfterly and north-weft winds. 
She belonged to Mr, Hezekiah Guy, who was formerly a fer- 
VOL. in. F f vant 



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iiS THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 



Sundiy 3, 



vant of mine, and was commanded by a brother of his. I 
defired him to make a report of mc, on his arrival at Poole. 
At three o'clock in the afLernoon, we had the pleafure to get ' 
fight of the land, from the Landsend to the Lizzard. The 
wind veered foutherly in the night, and blew hard ; and at day 
break we had the mortification to find a very thick fog, ac- 
companied by a heavy gale of wind dead on the fhore ; but 
at nine o'clock, judging that we were abreaft of the ftart ; a 
full council was called, to determine what we fliould do, when 
-every man, except general Arnold, unanimoufly concluded, 
that it would be better to put before the wind and make the 
land at all events, than to keep the fea in our crippled ftate, 
as we did not think it poffibic to clear Portland ; in which cafe, 
we muft run on fhore in the night. Having made our eleftion, 
we bore away ; and never did I fee fo much anxiety in the 
countenances of men, as appeared in every one on board ; for 
every minute we expelled to fee a rocky fhore not far diflant, 
and mod hkely to run upon it. At two in the afternoon the 
fog cleared away, and we then got fight of Berry Head, with 
Tor Bay right a head. A frantic joy now pervaded every one, 
almofl. to madnefs, and continued for near an hour; by which 
lime, we had four filhing*boats from Brixham along-fide, and. 
in a ftiort time, all the paflfengers, except general Arnold and 
his fervant, got into them and went on fhore-, leaving the 
veflel fafe at an anchor in Babicam Bay. At fix o'clock I land- 
ed at Brixham, and regaled myfelf on a luxurious and plenti- 
ful difh of beef-Ileakes; which was the firflgood meal I had 
made, fiace the commencement of our misfortunes. Here I 
learned that great numbers of veflels, particularly Newfoundr 
landers, had been lofl, and others greatly 'damaged in the late , 
gales ; one belonging to this port, got in here this morning, a 
greater wreck then we were; having loft her mafls and nine 
men; all of whom had. been wafhed over-board, when her 
mafls were carried away-, 

I remained 



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219 



Tuefdax 5. 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

I remained at Brixham till Tuefday the fifth, whea I hired 
a fingle-horfe chair, (no chaife being to be had] and went to 
Tinmouth; where I found the John fafe arrived, and a New- 
foundland veiTel, which attempted to come in on Sunday night, 
on fhore upon the beach at the mouth of the harbour. On 
Wednefday I got my baggage on fhore, and was informed by 
the mate, that, at fuch times as I was upon deck general Ar- 
nold through the medium of his fervant, had ftolen moft of 
the wine, which belonged to us both, and had fold it to the 
failors for water; which he kept for his own ufe. Be that as it 
may, the faCls were thefe ; on examining the lockers, only one 
bottle of wine was left, although there ought to have been more; 
and there were nine bottles of water, not one drop of which I 
knew of. A few days after we were reduced to a pint of water, the 
general's fervant offered to purchafe from the failors, two bottles 
for me ; the price of which was to be a dollar in money ; I readily 
confented to give that price, and one bottle was delivered the 
next day; but I could never get the other until Friday laft, 
when I had no occafion for it ; and as 1 had, for a long time paft, 
obferved the general to have great abundance of water, there is 
very great reafon to believe the mate's report to be a true one. 

On the feventh I went in a chaife to Exeter, and on the eighth ThurHiy 7, 
took a paffage in the mail coach to Blandford ; from whence ^^ g 
I went that night to Poole in a chaife, and arrived at Mr. Lef- 
ter's houfe at eight o'clock. He had heard of me from Mr, 
Guy, but, the letter which I wrote to him from Brixham hav- 
ing not yet appeared, he had concluded that we were caft away 
on Sunday laft, and that all hands had perilhed. I continued 
at Poole till the fixteeenth, when I went to Wimbourn; the 
next evening I fet out for London in the Poole mail coach, and 
arrived there at nine o'clock on the morning of the eighteeuth. Monday 18. 



Saturday 16. 
Sanday 1 y. 



Ffa 



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1786. 



THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

Soon after my arrival in London, I made application to my 
alEgnees for reftitution of the goods which they had attached ; 
yet although I very clearly convinced them, that they were 
the property of Mr. CoUingham and myfelf, and had been ho- 
nelUy obtained, and that Noble and Pinfon could not poffibly 
have any claim on them, they refufed to reftore them. I threat- 
ened them with law ; and they propofed arbitration; to which I 
confented. But they afterwards found a pretence for refuHng 
to lign the bonds^ which forced me to aiBgn my part (only one 
hogdiead of oil) to Mr. CoUingham, and then, as his agent, to 
fcrve William Pinfon with a copy of a writ. My aflignees de- 
fended the a£lion ; they put the trial ofF twice, and attempted 
to do it a third time ; but I fruftrated their intentions ; and when 
the caufe came to a hearing, the great Erikine himfelf was oblig- 
ed to declare that he had not a word to fay in defence of his 
client. In confequence of which, Mr. CoUingham obtained a 
verdid for full damages and colls of fuit, a circumAance not 
to the honour of thofe who endeavoured to deprive him of 
his property. I was, however, above two hundred pounds 
out of pocket, by the cxpences which I had been at : yet, as 
1 had obtained a perfe£l cure of my fciatica and had pre- 
vented my partner from being (hamefully wronged, I thought 
the money had been weU applied. 

Perhaps it may not be difpleafing to the reader, if I here 
attempt a fliort Natural Hiftory of the country, and add fucb 
remarks as my very confined abilities have enabled me to make» 

Labrador is a laige peninfula, joined at the ifthmus to Cana^ 
da, which, togedier with Hudfon's Bay, bounds it on the weft; 
on the north are Hudfon's Straits; the Atlantic Ocean on the 
«afl; and the Straits ofBeU Kle, and the Gulph of St. Laurence 
on the Ibutb. 

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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

The face of the whcde country, at leaft all thofe parts we are at 
prefent acquainted with, are very hilly ; and in moft parts moun- 
tainous. The fouth coafl, has great appearance of fertility from 
the fca, but a clofe infpcdion difcovers the foil to be poor, and 
the verdure to confift only of coarfe plants, which are well 
adapted to the fupport and nourifhment of deer and goats, but 
do not appear proper for horfes, kine, or flieep. There is no 
doubt but cultivation would produce good grafs of difierent 
kinds, and that grazing farms might be eftablifhed; they would 
however, be attended with too much trouble and expence 
to have them on a large fcale; as it would be difficult to fence 
againfl; the white-bears and wolves, and all kinds of cattle 
rnuil be houfed for nine months in the year. Corn might pof- ■ 
fibly be raifed about the heads of the deepcft bays, and in the 
interior parts of the country ; but the few experiments which I 
made in my gardens failed of fuccefs; for the ears were finged 
by the froft before the grain ripened. 

All the eaft coafl, as far as I went and by what I could learn 
from the Efquimaux, exhibits a mofl: barren and iron-bound 
appearance ; the mountains rife fuddenly out of the fea, and 
are compofed of a mafs of rocks, but thinly covered in fpots . 
with black peat earth ; on which grow fome flunted fpruces, 
empetrum nigrum, and a few other plants, but not fufficient to 
give them the appearance of fertility; fuch lands therefore : 
are always denominated Barrens. 

As fome compenfation for the poverty of the foil, , thfe fea, . 
rivers, and lakes abound in fifh, fowl, and amphibious crea- 
tures. No country is better furnilhed with large, convenient, . 
and fafe harbours, or fupplied with better water; for rivers, 
brooks, lakes, pools, and ponds are every where to be met with^ 



1786. 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

in great abundance. And I cannot help obferving here, that 
the fwelled throats, which the inhabitants of many Alpine 
countries are fubjeS to, are occafioned by the mineral particles 
which the ^vaters imbibe in their paflage down certain hills, 
and not to the efFeft of fnow-water; fince .no fuch complaints 
are to be found in Labrador, where genuine fprings are fo 
fcarce, that I may venture to affirm, nineteen parts out of 
twenty of the waters in that country, are the produtl; of the 
winter fnows. 

All along the face of the eafl coaft, and within the many ca- 
pacious bays which indent it, are thoufands of iflands of various 
. jizes, on which itmumcrable multitudes of eider-ducks, and 
other water-fowl breed; the very fmalled are not without their 
inhabitants, if the fpray of the fea does not fly entirely 
over them ; and the larger ones have generally deer, foxes, and 
hares upon them : the former will fwim out to them, to get clear 
of the wolves which infeft the continent; but the two latter go 
out upon the ice, and are left upon them when it breaks up in 
the fpring. 

All thofe kinds of fifh which are found in the Artie feas, 
abound on this coall; and the rivers are frequented by great 
abundance of falmon, and various ibrtsof fea-trout; pike, barbel, 
eels, river-trout, and fome few other kinds of frelh- water fifli 
are alio found in them. 

Although, in failing along this coafl:. the afbniflied mariner is 
infenfibly drawn into a conclufion, that this country was the 
laft which God made, and that he had no other view than to 
throw together there, the refufe of his materials, as of no ufe 
to mankind, yet, he no fooner penetrates a few miles into a 
bay, than the great change, both of the climate and pix>fpe6}s, 

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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 225 

alter his opinion. The air then becomes foft and warm; ''"^ ' 
bare rocks no longer appear ; the land is thick clothed with 
timber, which reaches down almofl to high-water mark, and 
is generally edged with grafs. Few flout trees are to be 
met with, until you have advanced a confidcrable diffance 
and have fhut the lea out; for the fea air, moft certainly 
has a very pernicious eflfeft upon the growth of timber, as 
well as on many other things. The befl timber, is generally 
found near the head of the tide, and by the fides of brooks. 
My bufinefs requiring a great deal of all forts, and a multi- 
tude of rinds, it became necelTary for me, in all niy ranges 
through the woods, to keep a very fharp look-out for 
whatever might be of ufe; which naturally led me to make 
obfervations, on the inclination and courfe of nature, in the 
propagation and growth of timber. 

Whether it be owing to the climate, or to the foil of this 
country I will not- take upon me to fay, but the faft is, that^ 
nature is difpofed to clothe the ground with fpruces and firej 
intermixing a few larches, birch, and afpens fparingly, along 
the edges of thofe woods which grow adjoining to the fhores 
of the bays, rivers, brooks, and ponds ; where only, they ar- 
rive at any degree of perfcSion. Although abundance of larches 
will grow upon the fides of the barren hills along the fea-coaft, 
yet I never faw one, in fuch fituations, which, was of any value. 
If, through the carelefihefs of thofe who make fires in the woods 
or by lightning, the old fpruce woods are burnt down, In- 
dian-tea is generally the firll thing which comes up; currants 
follow next, and after them, birch. As the plants of birch- 
commonly fpring up within three or four feet of each other,, 
they are foon drawn up, and make moft excellent hoops; a- 
bout which time, the fpruces and firs will be fprung up among 
them, to the height of two, three,, or four feet, when the 

Indiana- 



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824 THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

I— 'Jt— 1 Indian-tea and currants will be nearly killed. The birches 
havii^ now locked their heads fo clofe that the fun cannot 
penetrate through the foliage and requiring more nourilhrnent 
than the ground is able to give to each plant,, they begin to Ihew 
confumptive fymptoms, by the under branches dying ; and as 
Ibme few of the ftronger ones rob thofe which are weaker, the 
latter decay altogether, and what remain grow to pretty ftout 
trees: yet it is almoft impoffible to find one of them found, 
by their not being thinned in proper time, fo as to admit the 
genial rays of the fun, and a free circulation of air, to invi- 
gorate and fertilize the earth; and to allow each plant a fufficient 
portion of land for its fupport. At length the fpruces and firs 
over-top, and kill the birches ; and, when it fo happens that they 
do not ftand too thick and the foil fuits them, they will arrive 
at a great fize ; particularly the white-fpruce. Where there is 
a poverty of foil, and they grow clofe together, they are black, 
crabbed, and moffy; confequently of no value: but where 
the foil is pretty good, if they ftand too thick, yet they run clear 
and tall, and attain fubftiance fufficient for fhallop's-oars, flcifFs- 
oars, (tage-beams, rafters, longers, and other purpofes, for which 
length is principally required. Had not nature dilpofed them to 
fhoot their roots horizontally, the adventurers in that country 
would have found a great difficulty in building veffels of any 
kind for it is from the root, with part of the trunk of the tree; 
that moft of the timbers are cut; and no others will fupply 
■ proper ftems, and other particular timbers. 

When a fire happens on a peat foil, at the end of a very dry 
fummer, the whole of it is burnt away to a great depth; and 
will not only, produce no good timber again, but alfo, is both 
dangerous and troublefome to walk over; for great numbers 
of large ftones and rocks, are then left expofed on the furfacc, 
and the Indian-tea, currants, &c. which grow between, often 

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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. MS 

prevent their being difcovered in time to avoid a bad fall : but '""J^JjT^ 

if the ine happens early in the fummer, or when the ground is 

wrt, the foil talies no damage. The burnt woods are alfo 

very bad to walk through, until the trees are felled and pretty 

will gone to decay ; but in how many years that will be, I had 

no opportunity to obferve; I know it is not a few, and that it 

depends on particular circumftances. 

When the woods are left to nature, the growth of the timber 
is very flow, for I feldom faw even a young tree, which fent : 

forth an annual (hoot above fix inches in length; in general it 
was only one. Whereas, I always obferved them to grow from 
twelve to eighteen inches in a year, wherever all the old trees 
had been felled, and the young ones were left at a confiderable 
dillance from each other; they alfo looked much more healthy 
and beautiful; which fully proves how abfolutely neceflary the 
fun, air, and a fufficient fpace of ground are to the growth of 
good timber. 

Since my return to England, I have taken particular notice of 
all the young plantations which 1 have met with, and I fcarcely 
know one of ten years growth that is not greatly injured, and 
moll of thofc which are older totally ruined, by not being fuf- 
ficiently and timely thinned; few of them, in truth have ever 
been thinned at all. Every one will fay "Plant thick ; and af- 
" terwards thin." But where is the man who has not forgot 
the latter injunction? I mull confefs I do not know him: for 
not one of thofe few whom 1 have obferved to thin, either began 
in time, or did it fulEciently when he did begin. I mull there- 
fore fuppofe, that if all perfons who plant, would^ake care never 
to place a timber-tree, or'fwffer one to Hand nearer to another 
than the diameter of the fpread of its own branches, fiom the 
outer branch of itfcif to the outer branch of its next neighbour, 
VouUI. Gg with 



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.236 THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

r—^^'^^ withthe intermediate fpace filled up withbirch,afli,orotherpole- 
wood, (which Ihould be regularly hagged in a certain term of 
years proportioned to their growth) the beft timber which the 
foil could produce, would moft likely be obtained; the planta- 
tions would become beautiful, magnificent, and valuable; there 
would be a conflant fuccefCon of excellent covert for game, and 
an annual income to defray the expence. And as a fir fallow 
is of all others the moll deplorable, I would advife a mixture of 
oaks to fucceed the firs, not only to render thp aflemblage more 
beautiful, but for the benefit of the navy in particular, and 
pofterity in general. 

Labrador produces but feven forts of trees which are worthy 
of that appellation : viz. black, white, and red fpruce, larch, 
filver fir, birch, and afpen; at lead, if there be any others, ihey 
muft grow on the confines of Canada. Thofe next in fize, arc 
willow, mountain a(h, and cherry; the two former grow up in 
many ftems, as if from old ftools, and I never faw one thicker 
than a good hedge-flake; but the latter is a fingle ftandard, and 
I believe very fcarce; for I met with them by the fide of one 
hill only, where they flood in good plenty, and were about fe- 
ven or eight feet high, but not more than three inches in cir- 
cumference; the fruit was fmall, taftelefs, and nearly all ftone. 
The rell are mere (hrubs; they are the alder, ofier, dog-berry, 
baked-pears, juniper, currants, rafpberries, with a few others, 
and I once, if not twice, faw a fmall goofeberry-bufh. The 
fruits confill of various kinds of berries, viz. currants, rafp- 
berries, part ridge- berries, empetrum nigrum, baked-apples, 
bakcd-pcars, whortle-berries of two forts, cranberries, and 
a fmall berry which grows in a gravelly or fandy foil, the plant 
of which refembles that of the Ilrawberry, each producing but 
a fingle fruit, which is of a bright pink colour, granulated like 
a mulberry, and has a deUcious flavour; they are but fcarce on 

thofe 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. -as^ 

thofe parts of the eaft coaft which I was upon, for I met with * — Jj^^ 
them on a few fpots only in the neighbourhood of Sandwich 
Bay, but at L'ance a Loup they were more abundant; and 
there alfo, I faw tolerable plenty of fcarlet ftrawberries, which 
were the only ones I ever obferved in that country. 

As to plants, fince I am no botanift, I fliall beg leave to lay 
no more of them, than that I believe there is no very great 
variety, and but few, if any, which are not to be met with, in 
other northern countries. 

The only vegetables which I found fit to eat, were alexan- 
der (or wild celery,) fathen, fcurvy-grafs, the young leaves of 
the ofier, and of the ground-whortleberry; Indian- fallad, red- 
docks, and an alpine plant, which the rein-deer are very fond 
of. Fathen, however is no where to be met with, but where 
the ground has been dug. 

The foil is n^oftly of a light kind, yet clay is common to be 
met wiih in mofl, harbours, and in the beds of rivers, below 
high-water mark ; though I met with a fpot of ftrong, blue 
clay by the fide of Hooppole Cove in St. Lewis's Bay, on 
which grew good birch and other trees. 

That the mountains in Labrador contain fome kinds of ores, 
I make no doubt ; but none have yet been difcovered, except 
that of iron which I believe is in great plenty, fince iron-ftone 
is very common along moft of the fhores; and I met with fe- 
veral fmall fprings, which had a weak chalybeate tafte, and tin- . 
ged the ground red. Nor is there any great chance of ores 
being found, unlefs it (hould appear to the day, by the fide 
of fome cliff; moft of which founder more or lefs every 
fpring, by the crevices in the rocks filling with the drainage 
G g 2 of 



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228 THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

i — ^ — \ of the earth, and by the expanfive power of the froll aQing 
like fo many wedges all the winters in confequence of which 
many tons of rocks fall down as foon as the ice is thawed. 
White fpar is very common ; and feveral famples of that beau- 
tiful one called Labrador fpar, has been picked up by the 
Efquimaux, of which there is one large piece in the Leverian 
Mufeum : but have not yet been able to learn, that any but 
detached pieces, have been met with ■, all of which were picked 
up upon the land-walh. 

The birds of that country, I prefume, are common to moll of 
thole which border upon the arctic circle, they are the white- 
tail eagle, falcons, hawks, and owls of various kinds; raven 
white-groufe, ptarmigan, fprucegame, whiftling-curlew, grey- 
plover, various kinds of fandpipers, and other waders j geefe, 
ducks of various forts, Ibags, gulls, divers of various forts 
fwallows, martins, fome few fpecies of fmall birds, fnipes, 
and doves ; but the two laft are very fcarce, for I do not recol- 
leS ever feeing more than five fnipes and two doves. It'is 
rather lingular, that nothing of the heron kind ever vifit that 
country, fince the frelh-waters are fo abundantly flocked 
with trout, and I have feen bitterns in Newfoundland. 

The beads, are bears both white and black (of the latter I 
am told, there are two kinds, one of which have a white ring 
round their necks, and the Efquimaux fay, " They are very 
ferocious," but I never faw one of them, or even a Ikin) rein- 
deer, wolves, wolverines, foxes of various kinds, viz. black, 
filver, crofs, yellow, white, and blue; martens, lynxes, otters, 
mink, beavers, mufqualh, racoons, hares, rabbits, and moles. 
There may be other kinds,^ but they did not come within my 
obfervation. 

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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

The native inhabitants are two diftin3: nations of Indians; 
Mountaineers and Efquimaux. The Mountaineers are tall, 
thin, and excellent walkers; their colour greatly refembles that 
of our gypfies ; probably occafioned, by their being con- 
ftantly cxpofed to the weather and fmokey whigwhams. In 
features they bear a ftrong refemblance to the French, which 
is not to be wondered at, fince they have had an intercourle 
with the Canadians for fo many years, that there are few, I 
believe, who have not fome French blood in them. Thefe 
people inhabit the interior parts of the county, which they 
traverfe by the afllflance of canoes, covered with birch-rinds, 
in the fummer; and of rackets, or fnow-flioes, in the winter. 
Their weapons are guns and bows; the latter are ufedonly to 
kill moor-game, but their chief dependance is on the gun, and 
tfiey are excellent markfmen; particularly with fingle ball. 
They are wonderfully dever at killing deer, otherwife they 
would ftarve; and when they are in a part of the country, in , 
the winter time, where deer are fcarce, they will follow a herd' 
by the (lot, day and night, until they tire them quite down ; 
when they are fure to kill them all. I muft not be underftood: 
literally, that they take no reft all that time, for, if the night is ■ 
light enough, they reft only four or five hours, then purfue 
again; which fpace of time, being too Ihort for the deer to • 
obtain either food or reft, they are comraonly jaded out hy 
the fourth day. The Indians paunch and leave them,. then go - 
back to their famiUes, return immediately with bag and bag- 
gage, and remain there until they have eaten them^all; when, , 
if they have not provided another fupply elfewhere, they look . 
out a f re (hi But when deer are plentifui» they are quickly 
provided with food without much trouble, for, as two or three 
families ufually go together in the winter time, fome poft 
themfelve»- to leeward of the herd, while, others go to wind- 
ward ! 



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230 THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

r— ''^r — 1 ward, and drive them down; by which means, it feldom hap- 
pens that they all efcape. When they have good fuccefs among 
the deer, they alfo kill moft furs ; for then, they have leifure 
to build, and attend to deathfalls, in which they kill foxes and 
martens. Porcupine hunting is an employment affigned to 
the women, and is a good refource, where there are ftrong, 
fir woods. 

Beavers they can do nolhing at in the winter, on account 
of the froft, but they kill numbers of them in the fpring and 
autumn; and even all the fummer through: but one good 
Englilh furrier will kill more than four Indians, where thofe 
animals are numerous. They kill beavers by watching for, 

■ and {hooting them; or, by flaking their houfes ; the method of 
doing which, I will endeavour to explain: If the pond, where 
the beaver houfe is, be not capable of being drawn dry, they 
cut a hole through the roof of the houfe into the lodging, to 
difcover the angles; they then run flakes through at the edge 
of the water, where the houfe is always foft, parallel to each 
other, acrofs each angle, and fo near together that no beaver 
can pafs between. The flakes being all fitted in their places 
tftey draw them up to permit the beavers to return into the 
houfe, (the hole on the top being covered up fo clofe as not 
to admit any light) and then hunt with their dogs, backwards 
and forwards, round the edges of the pond, to difcover where 
they have hid themfelves under the hollow banks; taking ef- 

• pecial care, not to go near the houfe, until they can find them 
no longer any where elle. They then approach it very cau- 
tioufly, replace the flakes with the utmoll expedition, throw 
the covering off the hole, and kill them with fpears made for 
the purpofe. When they have a canoe, they will drive the 
pond in the manner already defcribed, without diflurbing the 
houfe ; and, when they fuppofe the beavers are all in, they 

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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 231 

place a ftrong net round it; then making an opening, they ( — aT"* 
kill them as they ftrike out of the houfe. They will alfo place 
a net acrofs a contraftion in the pond, where there happens to 
be one, and kill them there, in the courfe of driving. But, as 
it is feldom that the whole crew or family are killed by thefe 
means, hermit beavers are always obferved to be moft nume- 
rous in thofc parts of the country which are frequented by In- 
dians. The Mountaineers are alfo very dexterous in imitating 
the call of every bird and beafl:, by which they decoy them 
clofe to their lurking-places. And as the deftru6li6n of animals 
is their whole ftudy, there is not one, whofe nature and haunts- 
they are not perfedly well acquainted with: infomuch, that one 
man will maintain himfelf, a wife, and five or fix children in, 
greater plenty, and with a more regular fupply than any Eu- 
ropean could fupport himfelf fingly, although he were a better 
fhot. 

As thefe people never ftay long in a place, confequently they^ 
never build houfes, but live the year round in miferable whig- 
whams; the coverings of which, are decr-ncins and birch rinds i 
the fitins which they ufe for this purpofe, a> well as for clothes ; 
are tainted, to take off the hair, then walhcd in a lather of brains 
and water, and afterwards dried and well rubbed ; but for winter 
ufe, they will alfo have jackets of beaver,, or deer-fliins, with the 
hair on. As to the morals of thefe people, I cannot fpeakmuchin 
praife of ihem, for they are greatly addi6led todrunkennefsand 
theft. Theyprofefs the Romidi Religion; but know no more 
of ii, than merely to repeat a prayer or two, count their beads», 
and fee a prielt whenever they go to Quebec. 

The Efquimaux being a detachment from the Greenlanders, 
or thofe fiom them, any attempt of mine to defcribe them, 
would.be impertinent; fince that has aheady been, done by 

much; 



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«32 THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

f""^ — ' much abler pens. I will therefore content myfelf widi faying, 
they are the bdl tempered people I ever met with, and moft 
docile: nor is there a nation under the fun, with which I 
would fooner truft my perfon and property; although, till 
within thefe few years, they were never known to have any 
intercourfe with Europeans, without committing theft or mur- 
der, and generally both. 

The Climate is remarkably healthy, as an attentive reader 
muft obferve in perufing my journal. The winters are very 
long and fevere, but the cold is of a pleafant kind; never 
caufing a peribn to (hiver, as it does in England ; neither could' 
I ever obferve, that the fudden, and great tranfitions which 
are Co often experienced, had any bad effefton the conftitution; 
nor do I know of one endemical complaint. Agues I nevw 
heard of, although Phyficians tell us, " They are caufed, by 
ftagnate waters and too much wood " both of which there are 
in the greateft abundance there. A few miles from the fea, 
the weather, in the fummer time, is quite warm, and the air 
has a remarkable foftoefs in it; but the multitudes of mofchetos 
and fand-flies are intolerable grievances. On the fea coaft, 
the air is much cooler, and it is very raw and cold indeed, 
when the wind comes in from the ocean; occafioned by the 
prodigious quantities of ice fo immediately contiguous to the 
coafl:, whereby the water itfelf is always in a chilled ftate. 
Were it not for the immenfe quantity of frelh water, which is 
continually running into the fea from the rivers, brooks, and 
drainage of the land, caufed by the melting of the incredible 
quantity of fnow which falls in the courfe of the winter, that 
coaft would long fince have been inacceffible to fhips; for the 
fummers are neither long, nor hot enough to diflblve the ice : 
whereas, thefe waters^ raife the furface of the fea fo much fcigher 
than that which lies nearer to the equinoSial line, that they 

occafion 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 233 

occafion a conftant current to the £>uthward; by which means *~~^ — ' 
the ice is dragged along into a wanner climate^ where it is dif- 
folved. 

The immenfe iflands of ice, which are daily to be feen near 
the coad of Labrador, can be formed in the following manner 
only. The fea in the extreme north, is of fuch a depth, that 
navigators have often not been able to find the bottom with a 
line of an hundred fathoms, even clofe to the ihore; the land 
is very high, and many parts of the (here are perpendicular 
cliffs; the face of the coaft being greatly broken, numbers of 
bays and coves are formed thereby: and thofe are defended 
from any fwell rolling into them from the fea, by the prodigi- 
ous quantity of flat, low ice, which almoft continually covers 
that part of the ocean, and which, it may be prefumed, pre- 
vents thofe bays and covers from breaking up for one, two, or 
more years together. The fevere froft of one winter will form 
flat ice upon them, of an incredible thicknefs; that ice is deeply 
covered with the fnows which are continually falling, and a 
thoufand times more is drifted upon it from the adjoining land, 
until the accumulation is beyond all conception. On the return 
of fummer, the fun and rains caufe the fnow to become wet 
and fiirink together; when the froft from beneath, ftriking up 
through the whole mafs, confolidates it into a firm body of ice. 
In this JTianner it keeps continually accumulating until the ad- 
joining fea gets clearer of drift ice than ufusl, when a gale of 
wind happening from the fouthward, fends in fuch a fwell as 
rips up the whole, and divides it into many pieces, refembling 
ftupendous white rocks, which are flowly dragged to the 
ibuthward by the current. As feveral of thofe ifiands may be 
fome years before they arrive in a climate that is capable of dif< 
{blving them, it is more than probable, that in the mean time. 
Vol, m. H h they 



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^Q4 



TOE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

diey gain more in the coorfe of eadh winter, than they lofe ia 
die tntermediate liimmer. When they have advanced fome 
dijdance to the fouthward, they thaw fo much fafter under 
water than they do above it, that they lofe their equilibrium, 
upfet, and faH in pieces ; otherwife, I verily believe that fome 
of them would drive almofl: to the eqmn66Uail line, before they 
were entirely diflblved. 

The jam-ice is formed upon the coaft, by the freezing <rf 
the water on the furface of Ae fca, and by the fnow which 
falls into it, and is driven teacher by the wind, until it is ten , 
or twelve feet thick, and cemented, in the courfe of the 
winter, by the penetrating power of the froft; which, having 
formed the furface into a folid body, ftrikes through it, and 
■£ls with piercing vigour equally on what ever it touches below; 
and the wat^, at that time being as cold as poflible to remain 
in a Ouid Hate, gives but little refiftance to the adion of the 
froA. I am confirmed in this opini(Mi, from having had the new 
ice cut through to creep for feal-nets, when we have found fe^ 
veral feet of foft lolly underneath; all of which has been ce- 
mented into firm ice before it broke up in the following fpring. 
The breaking up of Baffin's Bay, Hudfon's Bay, the bays in 
Labrador, and the tickles between the numerous ifiands, all 
contribute their quota > and the fea is fo compktcty fubdued by 
it fome certain winters, that I am of opinion, there is not a drop 
ef clear water to be met with any where between Spotted Ifland 
and Iceland; nor on the north-weft fide' of that line : k)T I have 
known gales of wind to blow dead on the fhore, and to lafl 
fiff diree days, yet the ice which joined to the land, had no 
more motion, than the rocks to which it was frozen; that 
was fcarce poffible to have happened, had there been any open 
water, to windward.. 

Dews . 



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1BE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

DevniTtfo little kiiownin this (ouncrfr t^at ^ fddota> ob^ t 
fervedao^, uolefs^tjieTrhadbeem^oginthe night; and» during 
fiMepy hot de^ in the Ibmmer, a: vapour appears to fkim aiong 
the furfauce of all^opsn grounds, which re&mbles that- of an in^ 
tcnfe, ned hot fire, and pcevents the dillingui&ing of an oII>je& 
ai a diftance. I do not recoUbft to have c^ferved the fameift 
England 

During the rummer, travelling. by land to any diftant plaoe^ 
h not only very unpleafant.. but it is almod impraSicable . U 
muflbe perfoFQied on foot; the traveller muil cariy hiapro- 
vifions, hatchet, and what other things he has occafion for upoa 
his back.; his courfe will be continually interrupted by rivers, 
lakes^ or large ponds; he will find the woods iat(^erabiy hot; 
he will find the ground; almolt every where, give way imder 
his feet, as if he were walking upon a bed of fponge; and he 
wiiil be incefl^tly tormented by millions of flies. But it is 
excellenb walking in the winter, with a- pair of rackets; and 
there is no obflruftion from.water, as all waters are firmly fro- 
zen. The £fquim<uix make ufe of a long fled, about twenty- 
one feet by fburtcen inches, the fides of which are made (^ 
two-inch plank, about a foot broad ; the under edges are Ihod 
with the jaw-bone of a whale, a quarter of an inch thick, 
iaftened on with pegs made out of the. teeth of the fea-cow; 
acrofs the upper edges, are placed broad, thin battens to fit 
and flow their baggage upcHi. They yoke a number of flout 
dogs to this fledi and travel at the rate of fix or feven miles 
an hour upon ice, or barren hills: but they cannot go into 
the woods, for the dogs would not only bog in the fnow there, 
but the fled would fink too deep, and be always getting 
foul of the young trees. The Mountaineer method is the 
only one adapted > for the interior parts- of the country : their 
lleds are made of two thin boards of birch t each about fix 
H h 2 inches 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. 

inches broad, a quarter of an inch thick, and fix feet long: 
thefe are faftened parallel to each other by flight battens, fewed 
on with thongs of deer-ikin; and the foremoft end is curved up 
to rife over the inequalities of the fnow. Each individual who 
is able to walk, is furnilhed with one of thefe; but thofe for 
the children are proportionably lefs. On them they flow all 
their goods, and alfo their infants; which they bundle up 
very warm in deer-fltins. The two ends of a leather thong are 
tied to the corners of the fled;- the bright, or double part of 
which is placed againft the breaft, and in that manner it is 
drawn along. The men go firft, relieving each other in the 
lead by turns; the women follow next, and the children, ac- 
cording to their ftrength, bring up the rear; and, as they all 
walk in rackets, the third or fourth perfon finds an excellent 
path to walk ori, let the fnow be ever fo light 

The bufinefles hitherto carried on by the Englifli, are the 
fame with thofe on the ifland of Newfoundland. The exports 
are codfifli, falmon, oil, whalebone, and furs; but the latter arc 
much fuperior to any of the fame kind which are killed upon 
that ifland, and few parts of the world produce better. 

Notwithflanding the many difadvantages, which that country 
labours under, from poverty of foil,, fliort fummers, long wii> 
ters, and ievere frofts, yet I am clear, that art and good man- 
agement are capable of making great improvements; and if 
the obfervations which I made on the efFeSs of certain ma.- 
nures, in that country and Newfoundland, can be of any ufe 
in England, I fliall think my time well bellowed in communi- 
cating them. 

In one garden which I made, where the ground was a cot 
leftion of Oieer, fine gravel, without a particle of foil that I 

conld 



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THE SIXTH VOYAGE. ±37 

could percieve, the firft crop was, what I thought a very fair r — ^7*^ 
one ; but at the end of the fummer, I had a quantity of rotten 
fea-weed dug in. The following fummer, to prevent the 
ground being fo much dried up as it had been the preceding 
one. I tranf[^nted cabbages, cauhflowers, and lettuces, when 
very young, and carefully covered the whole of the ground 
between them, with frelh fea-weed, which had a moft excellent 
effeft; for, by that means, there was a conflant moifture prc- 
ferved, and the plants arrived at great perfeftion. 

In another garden, where the foil was a hot, fine fand, the 
tirfl year's crop was nothing to boaH: of; but, as I carried on 
a great falmon-filhery at that place, I fallowed part of it the 
following fummer, and covered it with the entrails of the fal- 
mon, which contain abundance of fat ; in the courfe of three 
years, by manuring it in that manner, the fand was abfolutely 
become too ftrong and adhefive. 

All the fealing-pofts now exhibit a very different appearance 
from what they originally did, from the great quantity of oil 
that has been fpilt upon the ground every fpring, and the 
putrefaftion of the feals' carcaffcs in the fummer. 

On landing in the harbour of Catalina, on my laft voyage 
from Trinity to Labrador, I obferved a luxuriancy of herbage, 
wjiich I did not fuppofe the foil, in that part of the world ca?- 
pable of producing; but on a clofer infpeftion I found, the 
extent of that fertility was confined to thofe places on which 
fifli had formerly been cured; fome fmall degree of verdure 
appeared on the adjoining land, which I knew mufl. have been 
much trampled on ; but beyond that, the earth exhibited its 
<KiginaL barren flate. I was. confequently led into a. belief, 

that. 



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3^ THE SIXTH VOYA&E. 

c — '^T'^ that the brinct. which (bauaed out of the iiih whea diey wsve 
fiifl; Tpncad, was' the caulb of fo. great aa alteration : and I wa& 
oonBrmedin this opinion, on my arrival at Conch; where-I found 
but few of the former fiflaing-r^ooms. occupied, apd aU the reQi 
bearing a burden of fine grals, which would not have difgraced 
the beil meadows in. England; while the. {brrounding land 
flili rraiaincd as barren, as any other parts of the ifiand. 

All the old encampments of the Efquimaux, point themfelvca 
out to you on failing along the Ihore. And the fouth-weft 
point o£ Great llland, on which I had a cod-HQicry for three 
fuccelEve fummers, is now covered with ffc^, where nothing 
but heath formerly grew. 

My garden in Iflhmus Bay, which the reader would ob- 
fcrve, produced excellent crops the firft year, by being ma- 
nured with fea-weed and offals of 6flj ; and alfo by mixing a 
greater portion of the barren fand that lay underneath, among 
the peat foil on the furface, it has fince, I have been informed, 
brought every thing to a degree of perfeftion, which had never 
been feen in that part of the world, in any former year. 

Hence it appears to me, that nothing can fo effeftually 
improve and alter the nature of hot, barren fand, as un^uous, 
animal manures; fince, by binding it, the moifture is retained 
much longer; and more food is c^tained for the plants which 
are grown upon it. But the worfl: of it is, that fuch manures 
are to be had in England, but in fmall quantities only, and at 
a great expence, unlefs the rcfufe of the whale's &t, after the 
oil has been extrafled, will have the fame effeQ; but I fliould 
rejed die (kin, as a fubflance not likely to anfwer any good 
purpofe. For the fame reafons tbst I would recomoiend unc< 

tuous 



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The sixth voyage. 239 

tuous manures to dry fand land, I would not attempt to put ' "Jg > 
them upon ftrong foils, left they fiwuld become too adhefivc. 

The black peat, or car foil, { IhouM fuppole, Xvould receive 
great benefit from an admixture of barren fand, aflifted by the 
produce of the fold yard. But, as in England, that kind of 
land generally lies fo low as to be very difficult to drain, little 
is to be expeded from it, unlefs that can e£k6tually be done. 



■MD or THX SXXTH VOYACE. 




A'^mARv: 



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hmf^ 



DIARY 



FARENHEIT's THERMOMETER, 

Taken at Ranger Lodge, Lat. 52° 18* North. Lon. 53* 39* Weft, 
in the years 1770 and 1773. At Charles Harbour, Lat. 52* 
18* North, Lon. 53° 29* Weft, in the year 1774- At Caribou 
Castle, Lat. 53° 48^ North. Lon. 56" 47* Weft, in the years 
1777 and 1778. And in Isthmus Bay, Lat. 53° 47* North. Lon. 
56" 30' Weft, in the years 1785 and 1786. It was out of doors in 
the (hade, and was generally obferved at day -light in the Morning, 
when higheft in the Afternoon, and after dark at Night. 



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LABRADOR: 



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LABRADOR; 



POETICAL EPISTLE. 



WELL may you, Charles, allonifliment exprefs- 
To fee my letter in poetic drefs. 
How can he, you will fay, in Nature's fpight. 
Who ne'er found time to read, attempt to write ? 
Write verfes too! and words to meafure cut! 
UnJkill'd in cutting, lave at Loin or Butt. * 
No matter how ; a projed's in my head. 
To write more verfes, than IVe ever read. 
The whim has feiz'd me: now you know my fcheme; 
And my lov'd Labrador fhall be my Theme. 

Vol. IIL A The 

* Iq hU younger days, (be Author bad a remarkable good appetite.. 



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CO 

The Winter o'er, the Birds their voices tunc. 
To welcome in the genial month of June. 
Love crouds with feather'd tribes each litde IQe, 
And all around kind Nature feems to fmile. 
Now Geefe and Ducks and namelefs numbers more. 
In focial flocks, are found on every fhore. 
Their eggs to feek, we rove from Ifle to Ifle, 
Eager to find; and bear aw^y the fpoiU 
Thefe in abundance, every hand picks up. 
And when our toil is o'er, on thefe we fup. 

The Furrier now the Fox and Mart gives o'er. 
To trap the Otter rubbing on the fhore. 
The Rein-deer (lag, now lean and timid grown. 
In dark reccifes, filent feeds alone. 
The Willow's tender leaf, and various . plants, , 
He fails to find not in thofe dreary haunts. 
His fearful Hind, now fhuns the Wolf's dire wiles. 
And feeks her fafety on the neighb'ring Ifles; 
Whether in Lakes, or near the Ocean's fliore. 
Cleaving the liquid wave, (he ventures o'er. 
Now pond'rous grown, ftie Nature's law obeys, 
And on the ground her tender nurfling lays. 
O'er this flie watches with maternal care. 
Nor danger dreads, unlefs fell man comes there; 
(Him, beaft of prey, or Rock, or Wave ne'er Hops) 
For, mark'd by him, to him a prey flie drops. 

Fond, 



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Fond, in the Summer, on young twigs to browfe. 
The focial Beavere quit their Winter's houfe. 
Around the Lake they cmife, nor fear miQiap, 
And fport unheedful of the Furrier's trap. 

The Sahnon now no more in Ocean play. 
But up frefh Rivers take their filent way. 
For them, with nicefl art, we fix the net; 
For them, the ftream is carefully befet; 
Few filh efcape: We toil both night and day. 
The Seafon's fliort, and Time flies fwift away. 

The Efquimaux from Ice and Snow now free. 
In Shallops and in Whale-boats go to Sea; 
In Peace they rove along this pleafant Hiore, 
In plenty live; nor do they wifh for more. 
Thrice happy Race! Strong Diink nor gold they know; 
What in their Hearts they think, their Faces fliew. 
Of manners gentle, in their dealings juft. 
Their plighted promife, fafely you may truft. 
Mind you deceive them not, for well they know, 
The Friend fmcere, from the defigning Foe. 
They once were deem'd a People fierce and rude; 
Their favage hands in Human blood imbru'd; 
But by my care (for I muft' claim the merit) 
The world now owns that virtue they inherit. 

A 2 Not 



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Not a more hcineft, or more genVous fece 

Can blefs a Sov'reign, or a Nation grace. 

With thefe I frequent pafs the {bcial day : 

No Broils, nor Feuds, but all is iport and play. 

My Will's their Law, and Jufticc is my Will ; 

Thus Friends we always were, and Friends are ftiU. 

Not fo the Mountaineers, a treach'rous Race; 

In llature tall, but meagre in the Face. 

To Europeans long have they been known; 

And all their Vices, thefe have made their own. 

Not theirs the friendly vifit; nor the feaft 

Of focial intercourfe ; but like brute beall^ 

They greedily devour the reeking meal : 

And then get drunk and quarrel, lie, and (leal. 

The Codfifli now in fhoals come on the coaft, 
(A Filh'ry this, our Nation's chiefeft boaft) 
Now numerous Caplin croud along the Shore; 
Tho' great their numbers, yet their Foes feem more: 
Whilft Birds of rapine, hover o'er their Heads, 
Voracious Filh in myriads throng their Beds. 
With thefe our Hooks we artfully difguife. 
And foon the glutton Cod becomes our Prize. 
Not one ftands idle ; each Man knows his poll. 
Nor Day, nor Night, a moment muft be loft. 
The weftern Wind of low Ice clears the Sea, 
And leaves to welcome Ships a paffage free. 



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Yet huge large Ifles of wond'ious bulk reipain, 
(To drive off which, the Wind Hill blows in^ vain) 
In fize, furpafiiog far thy bulk, O Paul!* 
Immeafuiably wide, asd deep, and tall. 
To Seaward oft' we call an anxious eye ; 
At length th" expeSed Ship with pleafure fpy. 
Impatient Joy then feizes cv'ry Breaft ; 
And till we've boarded her Adieu to reft. 
Eager the News to learn, from Friends to hear; 

The long feal'd Letter hallily we tear. 

The Cargo landed, and the Qiip laid by. 

To Fifliing ftraight, the jolly Sailors hie. 

If you love fporting, go to Labrador : 

Of Game of various forts, no land has more. 

There you may fuit your Tafte, as you're inclin'd. 

From the fierce White-bear to the timid Hind. 

Of Filhing too, you there may have your fill : 

Or in the Sea, or in the purling Rill. 

Of feather'd Game, variety you'll find. 

And plenty you may kill, if you're not blind. 

If in the fliooting Bears, or black or white. 
If in this larger Game, you take delight. 
In fummer time, to fome large Stream repair. 
Yet mind no Salmon-crew inhabit there. 



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This favage Tribe, averfe to focial joys. 

Frequent thofe parts, moft free from Men and noifc; 

Save, where the Cataraft's ftupendous height. 

Stops the fleet S«Jmon in their fportive flight. 

Bears in abundance oft' frequent this place, 

And noble Skins your Viftory will grace. 

Of the Black-bear you need not be afraid; 

But killing White ones, is a dangerous Trade. 

In this be cool, and well direft your Lead, 

And take your Aim at either Heart ch: Head; 

For (truck elfetvhere, your Piece not level'd tru^ 

Not long you'll live, your erring hand to rue. 

To kill this Beaa, the Rifle I like beft ; 

With Elbows on my Knees my Gun I reft. 

For felf-defence, the double Gun I prize. 

Loaded with Shot, dire8;ed at his Eyes. 

Or would you rather a flout Rein-deer kill, 
(July now in) obfcrve and climb feme hill, 
Environ'd by extent of open ground; 
For there the Rein-deer at this time are found. 
Nor walk about, but from a Station watdi. 
And foon his motions with your Eye you'll catch. 
Be fteady now ; with cautious Eye explore 
The Wind's true quarter, or your fport is o'er. 
Nor lefs his Eye and Ear demand your care; 
No Beaft more quick can fee, more quick can hear. 

Yet 



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c 7 : 

Yet oft' his curious eye invites his fate. 
And makes him fee his Error when too late. 
With ftrift Attention all your ground furvey ; 
To fteal up Wind, then take your filent way. 
Shoes with fur foles, the iportfman ought to wcarj 
Your lighteft footAeps, elfe, he's fure to hear. 
If unperceiv'd, you've work'd with toil and pain. 
Lie ftill awhile till you your BrefUh regain. 
A Deer in feeding looks upon the ground; 
Then to advance the fureft time is found. 
When broadlide to you, and his Head is down. 
Aim at his Heart, but, and he drops 'your own. 
Obferve, no Ball will kill thefe Creatures dead. 
Save fuch, as ftrike the Spine, the Heart, or Head. 
Struck in thole mortal parts. Death quick comes on; 
But wounded elfe where, lick, he will lie down; 
There let him lie : anon, with cautious tread. 
Steal foftly up and (hoot him through the head. 
But (hou'd it chance the Deer keeps open ground. 
Where, to approach him, Ihclter is not found. 
And, Night now near, you cannot longer wait. 
Try this device, it may draw on his fate: 
Full to his view, and motionlefs appear ; 
This oft excites him to approach you near. 
He then will ftop, to take a careful view; , 
Be ready with your Gim, and level true. 



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C 8 ] 

If the voracious Wolf fliou'd pleafe you more. 

All fandy beaches you muft well explore. 

Chiefly, by Lakes, or by a River's fide; 

(In Summer, in the Woods themfclves they hide ;) 

fie careful not to walk along the Strand, 

But at convenient places there to land. 

His trails difcovcr'd, feek fome fnug retreat. 

And patient lie, till with your Game you meet 

A Wolf alone, is not your only chance; 

Perhaps a Bear, or Deer may foon advance. 

For various reafons, when 'the water's low. 

All Beads along the Shore delight to go. 

If fafely hidden, you have naught to mind. 

But, that your Game {han't have you in the wind» 

When Augull: comes, if on the Coaft you be, 
Thoufands of fine Curlews, you'll daily fee: 
Delicious Bird ! not one with - thee can vie ! 
(Not rich in plumage, but in flavour high) 
Nor Ortolan, nor Cock, with trail on toaft. 
Of high-fed Epicures, the pride and boail ! 
Young Geefe too now, in numbers croud the ihorc;. 
Such are the Dainties of our Lab&adoa. 

If you wou'd wifli with Hares to iport awhile, . 
You're fure to find them on each barren, ille: 

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But Ihou'd you there, the figns of Foxes trace. 
You Sport is o'er: No Hares frequent that place. 
Groufe, Ptarmigan, and various forts of Game, 
With Birds and Bealls too tedious here to name. 
You'll find in plenty through the Year to kill; 
No Game-Laws there to thwart the Sportfman's Will ! 

September comes, the Stag's in feafon now; 
Of Ven'fon, far the Richeft youll allow. 
No Long-legg'd, £we-neck'd, Cat-hamm'd, Shambling Brute; 
In him ftfength, beauty, lize, each other fuit. 
His branching Horns, majeftic to the view. 
Have points (for I have counted) feventy-two. 
But do you 'think, you'll all this pleafure Ihare, 
And, when fatigu'd, to fome good Inn repair; 
There on a Chop, or Steak, in comfort dine. 
And fmack your Lips, o'er glafs of gen'rous Wine? 
No, no; in this our Land of Liberty, 
Thoufands of Miles youll walk, but no Hoafe be 
When Night comes on, it mattett not a Ruih, 
Whether you lloep in that, or t'other Bufli. 
If Game you've kill'd, your Supper you may «*; 
If not, to-morimr you'll be Qurper fet. 
Yourfelf, both -Goot and Cbamfaerbin nai hi 
Or neither. Bed, nor Supper will yoa *■• 

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Drink you will want not. Water's near * ™»' 



Nature's belt 'tap! and always at ' 

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Now Work-J of various kinds, employ all hands; 
Each to his Port; for no one idle ftands. 
The Salmon now we pack; the next our care. 
The Codfifh for the Market, to prepare. 
Crews to their Winter-quarters now we fend; 
Whilfl; fomc, the Firewood fell; Nets, others mend. 
The Furrier now, with care his Traps looks o'er, 
Thefe he puts out in paths, along the Shore, 
For the rich Fox; although not yet in kind. 
His half-price Skin, our Labour's worth we find. 
And when the Beaver lands, young Trees to cut. 
Others lie fets for his incautious foot. 
On Rubbing-j^accs, too, with nicell care. 
Traps for .the Otter, he muft next prepare. 
Then Deathfalls, in the old tall Woods he makes. 
With Traps between, and the rich Sable takes. 

Now caft your Eyes aroand, ftem Winter fee. 
His progrefs making, on each fading Tree. 
The yellow leaf, th* eflfea of nightly froft. 
Proclaims his Vifit, to our dreary Coaft. 
Filh, Fowl, and Ven'ibn, now our Tables grace; 
Road Beaver too, and e'ery Beafl; of chafe. 
Luxurious living this ! who'd wiCh for mcnie ? 
Were Qvitt alive, he'd hafte to Laskador ! 

Some new variety, next Month youll find; 
The Aately Sug now feeks his mucb-lov'd Hind. 



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Grown bold with Love, he (lalks along the phun»; 

And e|pn, to fly from Man, now oft difdains. 

If, in your Walks, you meet this noble Brute, 

And with him wiHi his progrefs to difputc; , 

Be cool, coUe6ted; let him come quite near; 

Then take your Aim well, and you've nought to fear; 

If {truck not dead, reluflantly he flies; 

And loon grows faint; then trembling, falls and dies. 

But fliou'd a fudden Panic feize your frame. 

And fear mifguide you, in your Point and Aim,. 

Your Error's fatal; 'tis in vain you fly, 

T'evade the fury of your Enemy.. 

Now Eider-ducks fly South, along the fhore; 
In milder Climes,, to pafs the winter o'er. 
At fome fit Point, (here take your ftcret ftand. 
And numbers you may kill, from off" the land. 

All this is pleafure; but a Man of Senfe, 
Looks to- his Traps; 'tis they bring in the Pence. 
The Otter- feafbn's fliort; and foon the froft 
Will freeze your Traps, then all' your Labour's lojl: 
Gf Beaver too, one' Week will yield you more. 
Than later, you can Bope for, in a. Score. , 

In paths, the Foxes now, will nightly cruife; 
But when fhow'd up, no longer paths they ufe. . 

£. a. Noyembert 



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N<w«mber irt; the Ships muft ftdW be gdiw, ^ 
Or wait the Winter, foi* the Spring's return. 
The Lake* dPe faft; the Rivers ceafe to floW; 
Now comes fhe chetrlefs Day of Froft and Snow. 
In chains of Ice, the purling ftream is bound ; 
Black Woods remain; but Verdure is not found. 
And Here we feel, the Tyrants iron fway, 
Til^ a more genial Sun, returns with May. 
Seals now we take; which, when the Froft's fefvcre. 
In crouded Shoals, along the Coaft appew. 
Hamper'd in ftrong-mefh'd Toils, in Vain they dive; 
Their' Freedom to regain, in vain th^y ftrive; ■ 
Strangled they die; and with their Skins and Oil, 
Amply repay expence, and Time, and Toil. 
By Chri(lmas-Day, this work is always o'er. 
And Seals and Nets, fafe landed on the Ibore. 

Now blows December with a keener blaft; 
And Ocean's felf, in Icy Chains binds fail. 
Afcend yon Mountain's top; extend your view 
O'er Neptune's tracklefs Empire, nor will you. 
In all his vafl Domain, an Opening have. 
Where foams the Billow, or where heaves the Wave. 
A dreary Defart all, of Ice and Snow, 
Which forming Hills, faft into Mountains grow. 
So cutting cold, now bluft'ring Boreas blows. 
None can with naked Face, his blafts oppofe. 



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Bat well wrapp'd up, we travel out fecure. 
And find Health's blellings, in an Aic fo pure. 

Now to his Cave, the Black -bear hies his wAy, 
"Where, lock'd in Sleep, he fpends both Night and Day; 
Nor, till a milder Sun revives his Blood, 
Wakes from his Dreams, to prowl abroad for food. 
Not fo the White one; ever on the ftray ' 
In queft of Seals, his prefertt Only prey. 
This monfter fierce and ftrong, you need not fear. 
If that your Dog attack him in the rear. * 

Ther*e teas'd, he wields about his pond'rous Frame, 
And gives the Sportfman time to take his Aim. 
But fliou'd your untaught Cur attack before. 
Both Dog and Mailer Ibon will be no more. 

To barren grouil(d,"tfee Fox-traps now we Ihift, 

Where they can ftand fecure, and free from DSrift; 

Bait well yOar Trap ; ■ obferve too how it lies ; 

And fbon, a Fox, dt Wdlf, will be your prize : 

For Wolve9,'-in plertty. Oh fucfe ground appear, 

Compell'd by Hunger, there to f*k for Deer. 

Oft have I (eea this Animal difplay, 

Mtich artful Ikill, in hunting down his prey. 

The Herd defcri'd, h* (lily creeps up near j 

Then, rufliing forward, finales out his Daer. 

Greedy of Blood, aind wifh keeh Hunger prels'd. 

This he purfiiiiS, tegardfeft iSif the reft. .' . 

With 






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With well ftrung Sinews, both maintain the Strife j 
The one for Food'— the other runs for Life. 
If light the Snow, the Deer evades the Chafe; 
If drifted hard, the Wolf fupports his pace. 
Then, bold with fear, he turns upon his Foc» 
And oft'times deals him a moH: fatal blow. 
But oft*ner falls a viflim in the fray. 
And to his ruthlefs Jaws becomes a prey. 

Well Ihift the Scene, and to the Woods repair. 
And fee what various Works are doing there. 
In yonder Birchen grove, there lives a Crew, 
Employ'd in mending Cafks, and making new. 
This wood of Spruce, which rifcs to the fky. 
The fifh'ry's future Shipping will lupply. 
Some fell the Trees, and fome few out the Stockj 
Whilft others form the Vcffel in the Dock. 
In thefe Employments, Winter's pais'd away; 
No change is found, till near the approach of May. 
Returning fmall Birds then the Country filV 
And Cock-groulce chatter on each barren Hill. 
The Ice parts from the Shore, and now the Ducks 
Their Northward courfe beat back in num'rous flocksi^ 
Deer in fmall Herds the lame route bend their way, 
Aflbrding paftime for your Gun each day. 
All Animab their Winter-quarters leave. 
And Ocean, now awake, begins to heave. 



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Ice rotten grovrn, in ev'ry Lake youTl fee. 

And fVelling Rivers, from their Bonds fet free. 

The Woodmen now with Sledges, on the Six>w, 

I'heir Winter's Work draw out and homeward go. 

What's yet to do, muft inftantly be done. 

For other Work muft (hortly be begun. 

Shallops now launched, the Crews no longer ftay. 

But in their Boats, bring all their Work away. 

In fuch like Toils and Sports, the Year goes round. 

And for each day, Ibme Work or Fleafure's found. 




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