122 VISIT OF NATIVES. Chap. VIII. 



shouting of some natives was heard, although we could 

 scarcely distinguish them upon the land ice. The ship was 

 made fast, and the shouting party, consisting of three men, 

 three women, and two children, eagerly came on board. 

 Only four individuals remained on shore. 



The old chief Kal-lek is remarkable amongst Esquimaux 

 for having a bald head. He inquired by name for his friend 

 Captain Inglefield. The above three families have spent the 

 last two years upon this coast, between Cape Horsburgh 

 and Croker Bay. Their knowledge does not extend further 

 in either direction. They are natives of more southern 

 lands, and crossed the ice in Lancaster Sound with dog- 

 sledges. Since the visit of the * Phoenix' in '54 they have 

 seen no ships, nor have any wrecks drifted upon their 

 shores. They seemed very fat and healthy, but complained 

 that all the reindeer had gone away, and asked if we could 

 tell where they had gone to. Our presents of wood, knives, 

 and needles were eagerly received. They assured us that 

 Lancaster Sound was still frozen over, and that all the sea 

 was covered with pack. After half an hour's delay we 

 steamed onward, and on reaching a larger space of water 

 our hopes (somewhat depressed by the native intelligence) 

 began to revive. But we soon found that our clear water 

 terminated near Cape Warrender. Lancaster Sound, 

 although not frozen over, was crammed full of floes and 

 icebergs. The wind increased to a strong gale from the 



traces were abundant, the people seen having returned to the south 

 of Lancaster Sound. North-east winds prevailed almost constantly, 

 and perhaps in some degree aided the strong tides in keeping a 

 considerable space of open water in the offing throughout the whole 

 winter. The voyage proved unsuccessful, as no whales were taken ; 

 they had the additional mortification of seeing the Dundee whaling 

 ships steam past them on the 22nd of June, and of remaining imprisoned 

 in their harbour by the ice, until the 4th August. I am indebted to 

 Dr. Ed. P. Philpots of Leamington, who was the surgeon of the ship, 

 for this interesting information. 



