CRUISE OF STEAMER CORWIN IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 39 



On the morning of the 15th we got mirier way and steamed up past Chamisso Island and 

 Choris Peninsula to Cape Blossom, where it was expected to see a large number of natives. In 

 this we were disappointed, only one tent being seen, and that contained only an old man, his wife, 

 and one child, who were busy catching and curing salmon for winter use. At first they were a 

 little shy, but a present of some tobacco soon reassured them, and the old man became quite talk- 

 ative. He said a large numberof natives from the interior had been at Cape Blossom, but had gone 

 north a few days before to Hotham Inlet, where they then were trading with a schooner. A fresh 

 northerly wind having sprung up with rain, we cut short our visit on shore at Cape Blossom, 

 although the old man and his wife tried very hard to entertain us, drawing upon their imagination 

 for the purpose without stint. 



Cape Blossom is the northwestern termination of the peninsula between Hotham Inlet and 

 Selowick Lake on one side and Kotzebue Sound on the other. It presents seaward a sheer cliff, 

 which was described by Beechey as having an ice formation similar to that at Elephant Point, to be 

 described hereafter. Although I visited this place several times during my two cruises, yet I saw 

 no signs of ice against the face of the cliff like that at Elephant Point, which remains the same 

 from year to year. Cape Blossom is highest at its western extremity and gradually becomes lower 

 to the eastward, until it forms only a low narrow neck, across which the natives easily draw their 

 boats. To the northwest of the cape a shoal extends eight miles from the shore, and as it shoals 

 up suddenly inside the seven-fathom curve, it is very dangerous and should be approached, even 

 in clear weather, with great caution. 



Prom Cape Blossom we proceeded to Hotham Inlet, and came to auchor about two miles from 

 the native settlement called Sheshorelek, "Sheshore" being the name of the white whale (Be- 

 luga) and the termination " lek" meaning " the place of." This settlement was variously desig- 

 nated on board as White Whale City, Belugaville, &c. The schooner Fowler was at anchor here 

 with a large number of natives on board trading. Soon after anchoring we were visited by a 

 number of the natives, and after making them presents of tobacco and needles, we informed them 

 that we wished to buy some reindeer-skins for clothing. As it was blowing fresh they did not 

 bring off any that evening, but the following morning, long before the decks were washed down, 

 a dozen oomiacs full were alongside, waiting for permission to come on board and trade. After 

 breakfast the permission was given, and a general scramble ensued, the decks being filled in a few 

 minutes with bundles of reindeer-skins, which upon examination proved to be winter skins and 

 unfit for clothing. They had saved the best skins, supposing that we did not know the difference, 

 and, laughing heartily when they found their attempts to deceive had been detected, they brought 

 out their best skins, of which we bought a hundred or more, with some trousers, boots, parkies, 

 mittens, &c, paying for them in tobacco, calico, and ammunition. Mr. Nelson took some photo- 

 graphs of the natives ashore, and also of the settlement, which consisted at this time of about two 

 hundred drill tents, arranged in regular rows and surrounded by kyacks, sleds, dogs, and upturned 

 oomiacs. Scores of natives also ran in every direction, each with some article which he hoped to 

 sell or exchange for something more coveted. The whole scene was a most animated one. These 

 natives, who are from all parts of the coast, visit this place annually for the purpose of meeting 

 the traders and exchanging with each other, and also for the purpose of indulging in a dance and 

 athletic sports. They come from the southward, Cape Prince of Wales, the Diomedes, and King's 

 Island, and from the Siberian shore as far as Cape Yachan, from the Alaska coast to the northward 

 as far as Point Hope, and from the rivers emptying into the head of Kotzebue Sound and Hotham 

 Inlet. The largest of these rivers, which is the most northern, has its source near that of the Coi ville, 

 which empties into the Arctic Ocean east of Point Barrow, and it is not unlikely that the natives 

 are the same as those met by Lieutenant Maguire of the Royal Navy at the mouth of the Colville. 

 The native name for each river is the same — "Noyatay " — meaning "inland," and the inhabitants 

 call themselves Noyatayament. The termination ;l anient," signifying "a native of," is derived from 

 the word " innuit"; the change in the pronunciation is euphonic and does not change the meaning. 

 It is in general use along the coast. A branch of this river takes its rise within a few miles of Cape 

 Lisburne. I had some difficulty in making the natives understand the chart, as the river is not shown, 

 but from what I could gather from them it is quite large, and in places where they describe it as 



