40
The Natural Hiſtory
ſeen on this Eaſtern Shore. Furthermore I have been credibly informed by Dutch Seamen that frequent theſe Seas, that ſeveral of their Ships have at Times found the Eaſt-Side of Greenland Becauſe this Coaſt has at Times been found clear of Ice.cleared of the Ice, as far as the 62d Degree; and they had tarried ſome time among the out Rocks on that Coaſt, where they carried on a profitable Trade with the Savages. And I my ſelf in my Return from Greenland homewards in the Year 1736. found it to be ſo, when we paſſed the States Promontory and Cape Farewell; and ſtood in near the Shore, where at that Time there was no Ice to be ſeen, which otherwiſe is very uncommon. But as this happens ſo ſeldom, it is very uncertain and unſafe for any Ship, to venture ſo far up under the Eaſtern Shore. But, as I obſerved a little before, it is more ſafe and practicable to coaſt it from the Promontory along the Shore in ſmall Veſſels;The ſureſt way to get to the Eaſt Side, is to make a Lodge on the Southernmoſt Point of the Land. eſpecially if there be a Lodge erected in the Latitude of between 60 and 61 Degrees: and it would be ſtill more convenient, if
there
