July, 1858. ASCEND POND'S INLET. 129 



The lands enjoying a southern aspect, even to the 

 summits of hills 700 or 800 feet in height, were tinged with 

 green ; but these hills were protected by a still loftier range 

 to the north. Upon many well-sheltered slopes we found 

 much rich grass. All the little plants were in full flower ; 

 some of them familiar to us at home, such as the buttercup, 

 sorrel, and dandelion. I have never found the latter to the 

 north of 6 9 before. 



The old woman is much less excited to-day ; she says 

 there came a wreck upon the coast when she was a little 

 girl ■ it lies a day's journey and a half (about 45 miles) to 

 the north ; and came there without masts and very much 

 crushed ; the little which now remains is almost buried in 

 the sand. A piece of this wreck was found near her abode 

 — she has neither hut nor tent, but a sort of lair constructed 

 of a few stones and a seal-skin spread over them, so that 

 she can crawl underneath. This fragment is part of a floor 

 timber, English oak, yi inches thick; it has been brought 

 on board. 



TyOth. — A gale of wind and deluge of rain have detained the 

 ship until this evening ; we are now steaming up the inlet, 

 having the old lady and the boy on board as our pilots ; 

 they are delighted at the prospect of rejoining their friends, 

 from whom they were effectually cut off until the return 

 of winter should freeze a safe pathway for them ; they had, 

 however, abundance of looms stored up en edche for their 

 subsistence. She has drawn me another chart, much more 

 neatly than the former, but so like it as to prove that her 

 geographical knowledge, and not her powers of invention, 

 has been taxed. She is a widow ; her daughter is married, 

 and lives at a place called Igloolik, which is six or seven 

 days' journey from here, — three days up the inlet, then 

 about three days overland to the southward, and then a 

 day over the ice. 



K 



