NORTH POLE OF THE WINDS 



its camps in 1909, at which time caribou were so 

 abundant within the district that this explorer was 

 able to depend upon them for his food supply. Now 

 they are rare and exceedingly shy, and though we 

 frequently saw fresh footprints as we got nearer 

 the ice-cap, we were not fortunate enough to get 

 in sight of a single animal. 



About us the Taserssuak shores rose on pre- 

 cipitous rocky slopes to heights of 1300 to 1700 

 feet and more, and were shaped in sharply angular 

 contours which present much grandeur of scenery. 

 What now was our surprise on turning to the south 

 and passing through a gateway into the main 

 portion of this great lake, to have open up before 

 us as though by the magic wand of a magician, 

 a wholly different country — one lacking the high 

 relief but moulded in softened outlines. It was a 

 passage from the majestic to the placid in land- 

 scape. The type of landscape which now opened 

 before us was one which we were to continue to see 

 about us until the margin of the inland-ice was 

 reached. The landscape we had left behind us, 

 however, extends outward to the coast. The ex- 

 planation of this contrast could not escape one 

 who is familiar with the sculpture that is accom- 

 plished by glaciers. 



The ice-cap, which now has its front a full 



68 



