CHAPTER XIX. 



SONNTAG. — T^^LTGHT INCREASING. — A DEER-HUNT. — THE ARCTIC FOXES. — 

 THE POLAR BEAR. — ADVENTURES WITH BEARS. —OUR NEW ESQUIMAUX. 

 — ESQUIMAU DRESS.— A SNOW HOUSE. —ESQUIMAU IMPLEMENTS. — A WAL- 

 RUS HUNT. 



I WILL not trouble the reader with the many gloomy 

 reflections which I find scattered over the pages of 

 my journal during the period succeeding the events 

 which are recorded in the last chapter. While the 

 loss of my dogs left me in much doubt and uncer- 

 tainty as to my future prospects, the death of Mr. 

 Sonntag deprived me of assistance which was very 

 essential to the accomphshment of some of my pur- 

 poses. His familiar acquaintance with the physical 

 sciences, and his earnest enthusiasm in every thing 

 which pertained to physical research, both in the field 

 and study, made him an invaluable aid, while his 

 genial disposition and manly qualities gave him a 

 deep hold upon my affections. Similarity of taste 

 and disposition, equal age, a common object, and a 

 mutual dependence for companionship, had cemented 

 more and more closely a bond of friendship which 

 had its origin in the dangers and fortunes of former 

 travel. 



The light was now growing upon us from day to 

 day, and we found a fresh excitement in the renewal 

 of the hunt. It must not, however, be supposed that, 

 even at noon, we had yet any daylight; but there 



