EXPERIENCES IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN.
Captain Adams, of the whaling steamer Maud, which lately arrived at Dundee from Davis Straits, has related a few interesting incidents of his voyage.
When in Exeter Sound, Captain Adams was informed, by a native, of an island which was a favourite resort of the walrus, and where the animals could be often found asleep. He accordingly determined to try and secure an old specimen, and sent out four boats, with twenty-four men, to effect a capture. On arriving at the island, a large number of walrus were seen basking on the shore, and a landing was attempted, with the result that the colony soon showed their tusks, and made a deliberate attack on the boats. Ten of the foremost animals had to be shot to prevent mischief, and after a severe struggle a female walrus was lassoed. A number of small ropes were then fastened about it, and the huge animal was, after immense labour, hoisted into an empty boat, to which it had to be secured, to prevent it smashing the planks. On being towed to the ship, the boat and the walrus were hoisted on board, and suitable quarters were then found for it. It is fully eighteen months old, and Captain Adams is hopeful that it will survive. A young live bear has also been brought home.
One of the noteworthy incidents of the voyage was the landing of Urio Etawango (the Esquimaux whom Captain Adams had staying in Dundee over last winter) at Durban, the residence of his tribe. For several days previous to the arrival of the Maud off Durban, Urio was moody and disconsolate, but he did not reveal his mind, so that the crew were ignorant of his thoughts. The conjecture was, that he was sorry to return to the rude life of an Inuit, after his experience of civilized life. When the ship first arrived off Durban, there was a long stretch of ice running out from the land, and Urio and one of the officers travelled about fifteen miles, and lighted a fire as a signal to the tribe of his return. The signal was soon recognized, and ere long the whole tribe were seen making their way over the ice. Meantime Urio had returned to the ship, and he was taking a nap in his berth when the news was communicated to him of the arrival of the tribe, with his wife and child amongst them. The Inuits are a very impassive race, and it was amusing to see the cool way in which Urio and his wife shook hands, as though they had been parted twelve days instead of twelve months. Urio showed more affection towards his child, with whom he rubbed cheeks in the manner peculiar to the Inuits. But if the young wife was undemonstrative at meeting with her husband, she got into transports of joy at the sight of the numerous presents which friends of her husband in Dundee had sent out to her. One of these was a pretty melodion, and the young woman's eyes sparkled when she beheld it. To the astonishment of the ship's company, she lifted the instrument and played "There is nae luck aboot the hoose," finishing with "The Keel Row." It was subsequently ascertained that she had learned to play several tunes on the concertina whilst resident at the American settlements on Cumberland Gulf. When the other presents were laid out, the delight of Urio and his wife and friends was unbounded. Several of the gaudy petticoats were seized, and the women put them on above their sealskin dresses, being so fond of display that the most showy articles are always worn outermost. Owing to the distance of the ship from the shore, only a few of the lighter presents were removed at that time, but a month later the ship got near the land, when the remainder of the articles were put ashore and taken possession of by Urio.
Captain Adams gives the Esquimaux chief the character of an honest, hard-working, warm-hearted fellow. He proved a good sailor, was beloved by all the crew, and he was a dead shot while seal-hunting. It is evident that his experience of civilized life has given him a distaste for his former mode of life, for he pleaded with Captain Adams to promise to take himself and his wife and child to Scotland next year.
Captain Adams is of opinion that the whaling at Davis Straits and Greenland is virtually exhausted. He saw only seventeen whales throughout the season.