1917] ALONE AT BORCJP LODGE ^n9 



steamed away toward Cape Sabine, but came back and 

 anchored south of Cape Ohlsen. We told them where 

 the white men's house was and they went there. We 

 were all very much afraid because we had taken so many 

 things. You see, our men wanted the wood for sledges. 

 Some of the people were so afraid that they walked to 

 Anoritok when they saw the ship coming back." 



This is the Eskimo woman's account of the' Polaris 

 Expedition under the command of Capt. Charles Francis 

 Hall on its retreat south in the fall of 1872, after an un- 

 successful attempt to reach the Pole. The men who 

 retreated south in two open boats in the spring were 

 picked up in Meldlle Bay by the Scotch whaler Raven- 

 scraig, and were returned home in various ships by way 

 of Europe. 



When hunting walrus with the Eskimos, they have 

 often pointed out the location of the old Polaris, now 

 resting upon the bottom. 



On March 5th fifteen Eskimos arrived from the 

 south. One of them brought a letter from Ekblaw, 

 announcing his safe arrival at Upernavik, but in a crip- 

 pled condition because of two badly frosted toes. He 

 was very much in doubt about being able to reach 

 Holstensborg In time for the steamer. If he should fail 

 in doing this, then he planned to await the relief-ship at 

 Godhaven, where we expected to call on our way south. 

 Everything was now in full swdng for the departure 

 both of Doctor Hovey and of myself; he to proceed 

 across Melville Bay by dog-team to the ports in South 

 Greenland, where he could embark on a steamer for 

 Europe, and I for the exploration and survey of the 

 stretch of coast between Cape Sabine and Clarence 

 Head. 



