PLAXS FOR OBTAINING DOGS. 199 



The first expedient which suggested itself was to 

 open communication with the Esquimaux of Whale 

 Sound, and, in the event of this being accomplished, 

 it was fair to suppose that some animals might be 

 obtained from them. If we could succeed in bringing 

 the tribe to the vessel, we might readily accomplish 

 our wish ; for, during the period that their dogs would 

 be in our service, we could, if necessity required it, 

 furnish them all with food, either from our stores or 

 from the hunt. 



Hans was consulted concerning the Esquimaux, and 

 from him we learned that there was a family living on 

 Northumberland Island, several families on the south 

 side of Whale Sound, and possibly one or more on the 

 north side. Northumberland Island was about a hun- 

 dred miles distant as we would be obliged to travel 

 in order to reach it, and the south side of the Sound 

 about one hundred and fifty. That we should com- 

 municate with these people at the earliest practicable 

 moment was a matter of the first importance. If a 

 sufficient number of the dogs should remain alive 

 when the moon came in December, it was arranged 

 that Sonntag should make the journey at that period, 

 taking a single sledge, and Hans for a driver. If the 

 clogs should all die, then I intended to go down on 

 foot as soon as possible, and do my best to bring all 

 of the Esquimaux to Port Foulke and Etah, use their 

 dogs while we needed them, and feed and clothe the 

 people in the interval. Meanwhile, however, we could 

 only wait through the mid-De«ember darkness, and 

 hope that the month would end more auspiciously 

 than it had begun. 



