m S.W. to W.N.W., and the
thermometer, either on account of the strength of the wind or its
having occasionally some southing in it, rose to -4 deg., being the
highest temperature registered in our journals since the 27th of
December preceding. I had agreed with Okotook to accompany him on
a sealing excursion, but the day proved too inclement, the
Esquimaux not going out themselves, though it was not very often
that the weather could prevent them. Considering it desirable to
increase, by all the means in our power, the chances of these
people giving information of us, we distributed among several of
the men large round medallions of sheet copper, having these words
punched through them: "H.B.M.S. Fury and Hecla, all well, A.D.
1822." These we suspended by a piece of white line round their
necks, giving them to understand that they were to show them to
any Kabloona people they might ever meet with in future. Similar
ornaments, but of a smaller size, were subsequently presented to
many of the women, having on them the words "Fury and Hecla,
1822."

Early on the morning of the 16th, observing a party of the
Esquimaux, equipped with spears, passing near the ships, I joined
them, accompanied by Mr. Bushnan and one or two others. Having
crossed the point of the island, they walked over the ice to the
eastward, where we did not overtake them till they had got above a
mile and a quarter from the shore. This party consisted of eight
persons, among whom we were glad to find Arnaneelia, Okotook,
Toolooak, _Pootooalook_ his elder brother, and one or two others
whom we knew. They had by this time, however, separated into two
or three different parties, stationed at the distance of half a
mile from each other, along the edge of the floe, beyond which, to
the eastward, there was clear water as far as we could see for
frost-smoke.

The party we at first joined were seated on a high hummock of ice,
with their spears in their hands, looking out for seals. After we
had talked to them for a few minutes, Okotook suddenly started up
and set off along the edge of the ice, without giving us at his
companions the least warning. The latter seemed so much accustomed
to this, that they took no farther notice than by immediately
following him, and we did the same; the whole party walking at a
very quick rate, and the natives keeping their heads constantly
turned towards the sea to look out for seals. After being thus
engaged for an hour and a