CEUISE OF STEAMER CORWIN IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 25 



with a letter "V" ou the handle; a number of other articles, principally carpenter's tools and 

 cooking utensils, were seen, but, having no marks by which they could be identified, were not 

 taken away. 



After leaving the vessel on the afternoon of June 2, the party made the best of their way to 

 the ice, where they experienced some difficulty in embarking on account of tbe strong breeze, 

 which raised a sea ; but, fortunately, three natives who were sealing on the ice observed their 

 approach and directed them to a lee, where they embarked in safety, at a place supposed to bo 

 about 5 miles northeast of Kolintchiu Island, but as snow was again falling, the island, which had 

 been in view but a few minutes, was again hidden. The dogs were very anxious to reach the 

 shore after having been on board ship a week, and some time before they arrived at the ice several 

 of them jumped overboard in their eagerness, and they had some difficulty in catching and har- 

 nessing them after all were landed. Sledges were packed and everything made ready for the start. 

 Before this was completed, however, the Corw-in steamed away and soon disappeared in the 

 thick snow-storm. The sled upon which the skin-boat and some other things were secured broke 

 down soon after starting, and, although it was repaired, would carry nothing but the boat, as the 

 ice was very rough. It was a rather discouraging situation for sailors. Left on the ice in a blind- 

 ing snow-storm, with a broken sled, not knowing the distance to the laud, they found the native 

 seal hunters, by whom they had been met, of great assistance ; they helped our people carry their 

 loads, and guided them to the settlement. The second start proved more successful, although the 

 ice was very hummocky and the progress necessarily slow with such heavily loaded sleds ; but the 

 novelty of the situation, and the grotesque appearance of the party, clad in furs, soon put them 

 in good humor, and, as the sledging grew better, the first 10 or 12 miles were passed without diffi- 

 culty, when they found rough ice again, and frequent halts were necessary to give the dogs a rest. 

 During these halts, natives would run away a short distance and scrape away the snow from cer- 

 tain places, where there were air-holes and nets in which seals are caught. They took a number in 

 this way, and claimed the admiration of the party by the wonderful instinct with which they found 

 these nets, for, although to all appearance there was nothing to mark their position, they found no 

 difficulty in going straight to them. To set the nets, which are made of seal-skin, five holes are 

 cut in the ice, one at each corner and one in the center of a square of about 10 feet. The center 

 hole being much larger, the net is lowered down through this and the corners hauled up through 

 the outer holes and fastened. Wheu the seal comes to the large hole to breathe he becomes 

 entangled in the net, and, being unable to rise to the surface, is drowned. To get the seal, a long- 

 pole, with a hook on the end, is put down through the center hole and part of the net hauled up ; 

 then they slack away the corners and haul seal and net upon the ice. Many seals were taken in 

 this way, which the natives kindly buried in the snow in order to assist the sledge party to the 

 village. The snow-storm soon- abated enough to render the island visible, and it then appealed 

 about 10 miles off. Two of the party were obliged to run along side the boat to prevent its 

 capsizing and to ease the sled over rough places. The natives constantly shouted, " Ooh ! Ooh ! " 

 at the dogs to urge them to greater speed, and as this seemed to be necessary to a skillful dog- 

 driver, all soon learned the exclamation. About 9 o'clock the party stopped for a short rest. Not 

 being accustomed to this method of traveling, it was at first extremely tiresome, and all would have 

 been glad at this time to have pitched the tent and camped for the night, but as the settlement 

 was only 10 miles away they pushed on after taking a short rest and a bite to eat. The ice still 

 continued very rough, and as there were many holes, into which they often slipped, all were quite wet 

 and exceedingly uncomfortable. In some places it was almost impossible to get the boat along, 

 and more than once it was necessary to cut a passage between large hummocks to allow it to pass. 

 They reached the settlement shortly alter midnight, and were received by the whole population. 

 The distance from the place of landing to this village was probably about 15 miles, in a direct line, 

 but the sledge party were obliged to travel over 25 miles, owing to the condition of the ice, which 

 they made in a little more than seven hours— very rapid traveling, considering all things. There 

 are twenty-six huts and three hundred people in Kolintchen village. The chief received the trav- 

 elers kindly, and gave them permisssion to pitch the tent, which was done in short order, the natives 

 assisting or rather endeavoring to assist, for doubtless they were willing enough, though greatly in 

 the way. Shortly after lauding, our people were invited to the chief's hut, where Russian tea had 

 S. Ex. 20 4 



