176 FOUR YEARS IN THE WHITE NORTH [Aug. 



spot. Judging from the lichen-covered rocks and the general ap- 

 pearance and shape of the old igloos upon the shore, the inhabitants 

 of which were undoubtedly the builders, I should say these traps 

 are at least seventy-five or a hundred years old. 



Ak-pood-a-shah-o tells me that some years ago he had no bullets; 

 consequently, in shooting a bearded seal he used a large nail which 

 passed completely through the skull, kilHng him instantly. 



August 8th, Sunday, Reteeat Hakbor. — Into this httle bight in 

 the land came, sixty-one years ago, the retreat party from the brig 

 Advance,wet to the skin, cold, and discouraged, following their round- 

 ing of Cape Alexander, the Cape Horn of the North. 



August 9th, Monday. — To have clear weather is certainly a novelty 

 after two months of wind, rain, and snow. The Eskimos say that 

 the great war in the south where men are killing each other every 

 day is the cause of the bad weather. 



Two Arctic hare can be seen on the hill back of our tent. Two 

 white whales have just gone to the soth'ard. Game everywhere. 



August 10th, Tuesday, Sulwtjddy. — Two more wahus killed to- 

 day. A rough sea prevented use of kayak and compelled us to use 

 the dory after stripping her of everything unessential. There has 

 been an endless stream of walrus up the coast throughout the day. 

 Two of these were harpooned and shot. The beach is so covered 

 with drift ice and the sea so heavy that a landing can only be effected 

 with difficulty. 



Three skulls found here w^ill make a good addition to our ethnologi- 

 cal collection. One grave is so recent that I will not disturb it. Out 

 of respect for the memory of old Ik-qua, the first Eskimo to ever come 

 to Peary at Red Cliff, one should let him rest in peace with all his 

 treasures, consisting of two pictures cut from a newspaper, one blue 

 metal cup, four Eskimo drills, one wooden tube, one small glass 

 bottle, and an old rusty gun. How many, many things thrown into 

 the ash-barrel at home would make these people happy. 



We are keeping a constant watch on the southern horizon for 

 signs of smoke, indication of the ship from home. As far as I am 

 concerned, it makes very little difference. Three of the boys at least 

 would be terribly disappointed if she did not arrive. For their sake 

 I hope that she does. 



August 11th, Wednesday. — Two more big walrus to-day. There 

 were so many in front of the glacier that for some time we did not 

 dare to attack them. On the way down one followed us underwater 

 and struck at the rudder with his tusks, causing Ah-now-ka, who 

 was steering, to hop around and yell like a maniac. Some distance 

 beyond the herd were two sound asleep, standing upright in the 



