CHAPTER XXXV. 



THE ARCTIC SPRING —SNOW DISAPPEARING. —PLANTS SHOW SIGNS OF LIFE 



— RETURN OF THE BIRDS. — CHANGE IN THE SEA. — REFITTING THE 

 SCHOONER. — THE ESQUIMAUX. — VISIT TO KALUTUNAH. — KALUTUNAH'S 

 ACCOUNT OF THE ESQUIMAU TRADITIONS. — HUNTING-GROUNDS CON- 

 TRACTED BY THE ACCUMULATION OF ICE. —HARDSHIPS OF THEIR LIFE. — 

 THEIR SUBSISTENCE. — THE RACE DWINDLING AWAY. — VISIT TO THE 

 GLACIER. — RE-SURVEY OF THE GLACIER. — KALUTUNAH CATCHING BIRDS. 



— A SNOW-STORM AND A GALE.— THE MID-DAY OF THE ARCTIC SUMMER. 



Having determined to be guided by circumstances, 

 as set forth in the last chapter, I had now only to 

 await the breaking up of the ice and the liberation 

 of the schooner, — an incident which I could not an- 

 ticipate wholly without anxiety, owing to our expo- 

 sure to the southwest rendering the disruption liable 

 to come in the midst of a heavy swell from the sea 

 that would set us adrift in a rolling pack. 



The spring had already fairly set in when I re- 

 turned from the north, and each day added to the en- 

 croachment of the water upon the ice. A wonderful 

 change had taken place since my departure in April 

 The temperature had risen steadily from 35° below 

 zero to as many degrees above it; the wintery cloak 

 of whiteness which had so long clothed the hills and 

 valleys was giving way under the influence of the 

 sun's warm rays ; and torrents of the melted snow 

 were dashing wildly down the rugged gorges, or 

 bounding in cascades from the lofty cliffs ; and the air 

 was everywhere filled with the pleasing roar of fall- 

 ing waters. A little lake had formed in a basin be- 



