Narrative of a Journey to the Shores of the Polar Sea, in the Years 1819-20-21-22, Volume 1 | Page 4

the resident chief factors, traders, and clerks.
The Directors of the Company are continuing to reduce the distribution
of spirits gradually among the Indians, as well as towards their own
servants, with a view to the entire disuse of them as soon as this most
desirable object can be accomplished. They have likewise issued orders
for the cultivation of the ground at each of the posts, by which means
the residents will be far less exposed to famine whenever through the
scarcity of animals, the sickness of the Indians, or any other cause, their
supply of meat may fail.
It is to be hoped that intentions, so dear to every humane and pious
mind, will, through the blessing of God, meet with the utmost success.

JOURNEY TO THE SHORES OF THE POLAR SEA.
* * * * *
CHAPTER I.

Departure from England--Transactions at Stromness--Enter Davis'
Straits--Perilous Situation on the Shore of Resolution Island--Land on
the Coast of Labrador--Esquimaux of Savage Islands--York
Factory--Preparations for the Journey into the Interior.
1819. May.
On Sunday, the 23d of May, the whole of our party embarked at
Gravesend on board the ship Prince of Wales, belonging to the
Hudson's Bay Company, just as she was in the act of getting under
weigh, with her consorts the Eddystone and Wear. The wind being
unfavourable, on the ebb tide being finished, the vessels were again
anchored; but they weighed in the night and beat down as far as the
Warp, where they were detained two days by a strong easterly wind.
Having learned from some of the passengers, who were the trading
Officers of the Company, that the arrival of the ships at either of the
establishments in Hudson's Bay, gives full occupation to all the
boatmen in their service, who are required to convey the necessary
stores to the different posts in the interior; that it was very probable a
sufficient number of men might not be procured from this
indispensable duty; and, considering that any delay at York Factory
would materially retard our future operations, I wrote to the Under
Secretary of State, requesting his permission to provide a few
well-qualified steersmen and bowmen, at Stromness, to assist our
proceedings in the former part of our journey into the interior.
May 30.--The easterly wind, which had retarded the ship's progress so
much, that we had only reached Hollesley Bay after a week's beating
about, changed to W.S.W. soon after that anchorage had been gained.
The vessels instantly weighed, and, by carrying all sail, arrived in
Yarmouth Roads at seven P.M.; the pilots were landed, and our course
was continued through the anchorage. At midnight, the wind became
light and variable, and gradually drew round to the N.W.; and, as the
sky indicated unsettled weather, and the wind blew from an
unfavourable quarter for ships upon that coast, the commander bore up
again for Yarmouth, and anchored at eight A.M.

This return afforded us, at least, the opportunity of comparing the
longitude of Yarmouth church, as shewn by our chronometers, with its
position as laid down by the Ordnance Trigonometrical Survey; and, it
was satisfactory to find, from the small difference in their results, that
the chronometers had not experienced any alteration in their rates, in
consequence of their being changed from an horizontal position in a
room, to that of being carried in the pocket.
An untoward circumstance, while at this anchorage, cast a damp on our
party at this early period of the voyage. Emboldened by the decided
appearance of the N.W. sky, several of our officers and passengers
ventured on shore for a few hours; but, we had not been long in the
town before the wind changed suddenly to S.E., which caused instant
motion in the large fleet collected at this anchorage. The commander of
our ship intimated his intention of proceeding to sea, by firing guns;
and the passengers hastened to embark. Mr. Back, however, had
unfortunately gone upon some business to a house two or three miles
distant from Yarmouth, along the line of the coast; from whence he
expected to be able to observe the first symptoms of moving, which the
vessels might make. By some accident, however, he did not make his
appearance before the captain was obliged to make sail, that he might
get the ships through the intricate passage of the Cockle Gat before it
was dark. Fortunately, through the kindness of Lieutenant Hewit, of the
Protector, I was enabled to convey a note to our missing companion,
desiring him to proceed immediately by the coach to the Pentland Firth,
and from thence across the passage to Stromness, which appeared to be
the only way of proceeding by which he could rejoin the party.
June 3.--The wind continuing favourable after leaving Yarmouth, about
nine this