NINE MONTHS IN THE ARCTIC. 75 



ions in our anticipated travels. This expedition 

 was intended only as an introductory one to our 

 final removal from the place, when we should 

 ascertain more particularly where we were. 



It was the opinion of some that we were cast 

 away upon an island ; and in so far as we could 

 judge at this time, this opinion was rather con- 

 firmed. 



The captain with his party took their depart- 

 ure towards the east, and Mr. Fisher and his party 

 went towards the west. 



Each man was armed with whatever defensive 

 and offensive weapon he could well carry along 

 with him. These weapons were neither guns 

 nor swords, but a few knives, a hatchet, a broken 

 whale lance, and a spade. We knew not with 

 what we should meet, whether savage beasts, or 

 more savage men. 



The parties, as they traveled in opposite direc- 

 tions, soon found they were not upon an island, 

 as they at first imagined, but merely upon an 

 extended projection, as it appeared to be, from 

 the main land. 



The captain's party, after having traveled in 

 an easterly direction about ten miles, discovered 

 tracks of dog teams, and the footmarks of those 

 who accompanied them. These facts assured 

 the explorers that human habitations of some 



