Chapter VI

Our sad and desolate Feelings after the Departure of the Ship.
--What we should soon witness of Arctic Winter.--The
Wreck visited from Time to Time.--Provisions transported
to the Settlement.--The Weather.--Whales near Shore.--
Severe Gale of Wind.--Fall of Snow.--Ocean frozen over.
--Sudden Introduction of Winter, and its Dreariness.--Not
to be described.--The Sun falling, Nights lengthening.--
Disappearance of the Sun.--Long Night.--How we passed our
Time.--Confined to the Huts.--Singing.--Neither Book nor
Chart, nor Writing Materials, except Pieces of Copper.--Hope of
Liberation another Year.--Captain Norton's Method of keeping
Time.--The Razor.--Our Clothing.--Provisions getting low.
--Natives both eating and stealing ours.--A new Chapter.--
Commenced living on Blubber with the Natives.--Native Stock
diminishing.--Winters in the Arctic vary.--The native Manner
of capturing the Whale.--Preparing their Food.--Native Bread.
--Description of their Huts.--Their peculiar Locality.--
Their Method of lighting and warming them.--The Filthiness of
the Natives. 108

CHAPTER VII.

Health of the Natives.--Their Diseases.--Captain N. prescribes
a Remedy.--Their superstitious Notions.--Mr. Osborn
prescribes for the Sick.--A fatal Case.--They surround Mr.
O. with threatening Gestures.--Native Remedy for Nose Bleeding
and Sore Eyes.--Burial Ceremony.--Marriages.--General
Appearance of the Natives.--Their Character.--Their Habits
of Industry.--Property.--Language.--Icebergs.--Their
Formation.--The Distance to which Icebergs float.--Their
Magnitude.--Field Ice.--The sudden Disappearance of Ice.--
How accounted for.--Icy Vapor.--Poisoning. 127