Page:Narrative of the Discoveries on the North Coast of America.djvu/151

, enjoyed about two hours' repose, when they returned; but the check they had received seemed to have cemented our friendship. There were but few cases of ophthalmia among these people. Most of the women wore their hair in lofty top-knots, as described by Franklin; and they carried their infants between their reindeer-skin jackets and their naked backs. Some of them had light-coloured eyes and complexions, which, if cleansed from grease, might have passed for fair in most parts of Europe. It was high-water at 1, the rise of the tide being eleven inches. The weather, which had been very foggy since the preceding evening, now cleared a little; and, from an adjoining eminence, we fancied we could discern open water some distance to seaward. We made for it without delay, through a narrow lane extending outwards, and soon reached its termination. At the same time the ice closed rapidly upon us, before a strong north-east wind. We turned about, but it was too late. The boats were repeatedly squeezed; and mine, which was foremost, was only saved from entire destruction by throwing out everything it contained upon the floating masses. By means of portages made from one fragment to another,—the oars forming the perilous bridges,—and after repeated risks of boats, men, and baggage being separated