544 ESQUIMAUX REPORTS. 



the entrance of the Great Fish River, as reported by Mr. 

 Anderson, after his journey down that stream in 1855 : 

 and it accounted, at any rate, for one of the two missing 

 ships. We can, therefore, appreciate the anxiety with 

 which the gallant leader of the little band on board the 

 Fox, after remaining four days in communication with 

 the Esquimaux, and procuring from them many relics, 

 hastened back to his craft, and made ready to despatch 

 the sledge parties on a search which subsequently 

 proved so successful. 



"On the 2d of April, 1859," says Capt. M'Clintock, 

 " our long-projected spring journeys were commenced. 

 Lieut. Hobson accompanied me as far as Cape Victoria. 

 Each of us had a sledge drawn by four men, and an aux- 

 iliary sledge drawn by six dogs. This was all the force 

 we could muster. 



" Before separating we saw two Esquimaux families, 

 living out upon the ice in snow huts, from whom we 

 learned that a second ship had been seen oft' King Wil- 

 liam's Island, and that she drifted ashore in the fall of 

 the same year. From this ship they had obtained a vast 

 deal of wood and iron. I now gave Lieut. Hobson 

 directions to search for the wreck, and to follow up any 

 traces he might find upon King William's Island. 



"Accompanied by my own party and Mr. Petersen, 

 I marched along the east shore of King William's Isl- 

 and, occasionally passing deserted snow huts, but with- 

 out meeting natives till the 8th of May, when, off Cape 

 Norton, we arrived at a snow village containing about 

 thirty inhabitants. They gathered about us without the 

 Slightest appearance of fear or shyness, although no'ne 

 had ever seen living white people before. They were 

 most willing to communicate all their knowledge and 

 barter all their goods, but would have stolen everything 

 had they not leen very closely watched. Many more 



