The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-11-12
Written for THE RECORD.
"REMINISCENCES OF A VOYAGE TO
THE NORTHERN SEAS.
BY GRO. C. WESTON, N. Y
No. 2.

up in majestic style, before our startled
visions. On the following morning we
discovered huge rocky promontory,
covered with snow and ice, which was
designated by the Captain as being por-
ton of the northeastern shoe of La
brador. For the ensuing four or five days
nothing of note occurred, save a little in
cident, which resulted in watery bath
to one of the sailors, who, while furling
the flying jlb,'' was struck by some
loose rigging that was swaying in the
wind, and was knocked off the foot ropes
into the sea. AS he was going down he
caught held of the ''bob stay" or the
chain that runs from the end of the bow.
spit to the bow of the vessel. There were
two or three men who cried imam over
board" one threw a rope overheard to
HIM, which he grasped, and thus came
aboard by climbing hand over hand, I'M
till he came on deck. He made an ex-
of his corporal structure, and
was satisfied with having escaped with
only a watery bath, and no bones broken.
Within the next three days we sighted
land. This was glad news to our Captain,
as he was expecting to anchor at port
not far distant. The weather having
been foggy and not in state favorable
to their nautical observations, necessary
to preserve the due course of the vessel,
we had therefore been running under
''dead reckoning" and found ourselves to
have been drifting some fifty miles to the
northward of the spot where we had in-
tended to make landing. In a few hours
we ran into nice little harbor, which
received the name of ''New London Har-
bor," so.callcd in honor of the place from
whence we had sailed. The anchor hav-
ing been dropped, the sails furled, we
gained ground for few mental observa-
lions of our new surroundings, and found
them to be anything but inviting to
warm blooded American citizen. There
was considerable shore ice that still re-
manned in position.
In short time a boat load of Esqui-
maux came off from shore and when with
in mailing distance, began series of mys-
terious gesticulations, crying at the same
time "Chimo, Chino ?' The native Ian
guage, meaning "How dye do" They
came aboard and at once began to trade
with the crew for tobacco, matches, &c.;
in return for which the sailors obtained
furs, clothing made from the skin of the
seal, reindeer, &c. Some of the natives
were SO anxious to get some of the much
coveted Tweed" that they even parted
with their skin boots and went ashore
shoeless.
1t may not be amss to portray to the
minds of our gentle readers, an idea of
the peculiar appearance, dress, and man.
ners of these misguided hcathens. The
general feeling on the part of those of The
crew, who had never seen the Esquimaux,
was apparently one of disgust, but this
some gave way to one of federation. In
statue they are exceedingly short aud
rather disposed to corpulency, without
head covering, greasy and filthy. There
were several females in the party, which
added to their interesting appearance.
Among them were few small children
carried ON the backs of their mothers,
after the manner of the North American
savages. In regard to their beauty we
can say but little, not caring even in their
absence to say aught but the truth in re-
gard to their expression.
After having obtained about all the
skins, &C., they had to part with, and in
return having given them full supply of
the american weed" with which to re-
gale themselves, they re-embarked for the
shore, waving us affectionate adieux and
score of "To-bow-a-dit's, or "good byes."
We we're once more left alone in our glory.
We then set to work to break the "hold''
for provisions and water and clear up
decks for an evening entertainment. This
consisted of a dance or an old fashioned
"Quadrille." The music was kindly fur
nished by two of the ladies, one having
an ACCORDION, the other concertina.
(These ladies had returned from their
dusky brethren to do honor to the COCA
sion.) 1t was kept up to late hour,
when the sailors beginning to drop off one
by one, and finally no more being left to
form complete ''set,' the Esquimaux
again left for their homes on the shore.
1t is customary on this occasion, when
a vessel is at anchor, to set what is called
an anchor watch, which Is composed of
one of the boats crews, numbering four
men, who divide the number of hours,
from eight o'clock, p. NJ, to five O'Clock,
A. NJ, each man standing his watch
alone, His duties are to see that the yes
sci does not catch on fire, nor the Es-
quimaux run away with 1t. The last man
on the watch, then calls the cook, who
proceeds 10 get break fast ready, and all
hands are summoned to their repast. On
this occasion however, no anchor watch
was set and the poor cook was under the
painful necessity OF having to call himself,
which he did at rather late hour. After
having eaten our breakfast, we went on
deck, and each boats crew was assigned
to their respective boat and instructions
given in regard to their duties, what oars
they were to pull and other details in re-
gard to how they were to act while chas-
ing whales. The boats having been low
cred from the vessel, the crews embarked
ia them and started out on short cruise
of mile or two, to undergo preparatory
training, previous to engaging a battle
with the monarch of the deep.
In our next we will give a description
Of our first adventure with large and
formidable bow-head whale.
(To BE coNTINUED.)
A Memorable and Gallant Fight.
NetU York SIN lind. Dem.) iIl fJ.