THE WORLD OF ICE. 59

information obtained regarding the Pole Star, and it
was with feelings of no common interest that the
two friends examined the low-roofed houses of this
out-of-the-way settlement.

In an hour afterwards the captain and first mate
with our young friends landed amid the clamorous
greetings of the entire population, and proceeded to
the residence of the governor, who received them with
great kindness and hospitality ; but the only informa-
tion they could obtain was that, a year ago, Captain
Ellice had been driven there in his brig by stress of
weather, and after refitting and taking in a supply of
provisions, had set sail for England.

Here the Dolphin laid in a supply of dried fish,
and procured several dogs, besides an Esquimau in-
terpreter and hunter, named Meetuck.

Leaving this little settlement, they stood out once
more to sea, and threaded their way among the ice,
with which they were now well acquainted in all its
forms, from the mighty berg, or mountain of ice, to
the wide field. They passed in succession one or two
Esquimau settlements, the last of which, Yotlilk, is
the most northerly point of colonization. Beyond
this all was terra incognita. Here inquiry was again
made through the medium of the Esquimau inter-
preter who had been taken on board at Upernavik,
and they learned that the brig in question had been
last seen beset in the pack, and driving to the north-
ward. Whether or not she had ever returned they
could not tell.