Having brought the
"Harmony" round the first point into more open water, where she can
better avail herself of the occasional light puffs of wind, our
Eskimoes came aboard for their breakfasts and presently rowed away in
their boats. They bade us a hearty "Aksunai" and went down the side
evidently well pleased with their wages. Nor were they sorry to leave
the ship, which was beginning to roll a little. Accustomed as they are
to brave high waves in their kayaks or flats, they nevertheless felt
the motion of the vessel and were afraid of seasickness. Before
starting John had to splice his oar with a strip of seal hide. I
watched him put it round the handle, then holding on to the oar with
both hands get the rope in his teeth and pull his lashing tight with
all the strength of his back. So the teeth served him at each turn.
SUNSET, MOONRISE AND AURORA BOREALIS.
Now we have got fairly out to sea. The light land breeze has ceased
and we are lying becalmed. What a sunset there is over that Alpine
range of snowy mountains! Yonder dark hills to the north of Ramah are
glowing as if they were red hot through and through. True this is a
glory that fadeth, yet the cloudless sky long retains the brilliant
hues, and the seaward horizon has a broad red band shading off above
and below into blue.
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