ELISHA KENT KANE. 105 



"When all were ready to start they went upon 

 deck ; the flags were hoisted and hauled down again ; 

 the men walked several times around the vessel, 

 taking a last long look at her hardened and battered 

 timbers ; and then all hands scrambled off over the 

 hummocks toward the boats, which, at a short dis- 

 tance from the brig, had already been loaded, and 

 prepared for the journey. Four of the men were 

 invalids, and were conveyed in the boats by their 

 comrades. Dr. Kane drove the dog-team with which 

 he proposed to return to the vessel during the first few 

 days of their journey for additional supplies of food. 

 The men were divided into parties and appropriated 

 to the service of the several boats. The command 

 of the boats and sledges was given to the first officer 

 of the expedition, Mr. Brooks. The men drew 

 their loads by rue-raddies, which were wide straps 

 which passed over one shoulder and under the op- 

 posite arm, and were connected by long ropes to the 

 boats. 



The first stage at which the party halted was a 

 spot known by the romantic epithet of " Anoatok," 

 which, being interpreted, means the "wind-loved 

 spot." It was marked by a single dilapidated stone 

 hut which had formerly been erected by the noma- 

 dic Esquimaux. After leaving the brig their progress 

 was at first little more than a mile a day, in con- 



