he
to Cape Farewell, and sixteen days from the latter point to our
anchorage; hurry being out of the question when a _thing_ like the
"Emma Eugenia" was pounding the water in a trial of speed with perfect
snuff-boxes, like the "Resolute" and "Assistance." Patience and a
four-day tow had at last finished the work: and to all our anxious
inquiries about the prospect of the season, as to where Penny was, and
whether any intelligence had reached the settlements? not an answer was
to be obtained from a besotted Danish carpenter, whose knowledge
appeared to be limited to a keen idea of changing, under a system he
called "Trock," sundries (with which the Danske Koeing had intrusted
him) into blubber and seal-oil.

After a day of coal-dust, I landed with some others to see what was to
be seen, and to load, as we were taught to believe, a boat with wild
fowl. The principal settlement having been pointed out, we landed on
the slope of one of the islands, on which a coarse rank vegetation
existed amongst the numerous relics of departed seals, sacrificed to
the appetites of the Esquimaux and the _trocking_ of the Governor, as
he was facetiously styled. The said individual soon appeared, and in
spite of copious libations of Her Britannic Majesty's "Pure Jamaica,"
of which he had partaken, was most polite and hospitable. From him I
discovered that he and a cooper were the only Danes residing here, and
they, together with a cross-breed who did the double duty of priest and
schoolmaster, constituted the officials of Cron-Prin's Islands. The
native population amounted perhaps to one hundred souls: and it was in
supplying their wants, and in affording a market for their superfluous
skins and blubber, that the Danes derived a profit, under a strict
system of monopoly; no foreigners being allowed to trade with the
Esquimaux, and they, on the other hand, having strict injunctions to
lodge every thing they do not require for private use, in the public
store. The quantity of seal-blubber in store, which was equal to as
much oil, amounted to nigh upon 100 tons; the number of seals annually
destroyed must be enormous: this says much for the industry of the
natives.

The Esquimaux appeared all comfortable and well to do, well clad,
cleanly, and fat. Most of them had moved for a while into their summer
lodges, which consist of little else than a seal-skin tent, clumsily
supported with sticks. They were more than sufficiently warm; and the
numb