CRUISE OF STEAMER CORWIN IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 



passing between high steep banks it has a rapid current. The exploration of this river, of which 

 so little is known, would be exceedingly interesting. Its existence was first reported to me in 

 1880, by Capt. E. E. Smith, ice-pilot. 



The Koogarook River is next in size to the Noyatay. On its banks a few stunted trees grow, 

 which, in clear weather, can be seen with the glass from the anchorage off the inlet. They were 

 the only trees seen by us inside the Arctic Circle. 



Hotham Inlet, described and named by Beechey for Sir Heury Hotham, is between 30 and 40 

 miles in length and from 5 to 10 miles in width ; and although connected directly with the salt 

 water is entirely fresh on account of the number of rivers which discharge into it. To the south- 

 east of Hotham Inlet and connected by a narrow chanel is Selawik Lake, about 15 miles in width 

 and 20 long, but very shallow. The entrance to the inlet was sounded out by one of the Corwin's 

 boats last year, in the hope of finding a ship channel, but not more than one fathom was found at 

 the entrance, although much deeper inside. Tlie land near the inlet is low, but it is surrounded 

 by a range of hills from 1,000 to 3,000 feet high, from 10 to 30 miles distaut. Those to the north- 

 ward were called by Cook, Mulgrave Hills. To the eastward, in very clear weather, may be seen 

 two conical hills called Deviation Peaks. They are also in plain sight at Chamisso Island and bear 

 from it north by compass. 



On the morning of the 17th we got under way and proceeded along the coast to the north and 

 west, passing Cape Krusenstern. About 8 a. m. we hauled closb in shore and kept the lead going 

 with from five to seven fathoms. I have several times followed this shore with the lead going, 

 without finding any outlying dangers, although a shoal is known to exist, in the vicinity of Cape 

 Seppings, having only 9 feet of water, upon which one of the whalers struck several years ago 

 when beating down the coast. She had just tacked and was heading off shore when she struck, 

 showing that it must be a detached shoal, and it is undoubtedly small. 



The coast between Capes Krusenstern and Seppings is low and intersected by lakes and rivers, 

 upon the banks of which a few natives are located. A range of hills, commenced at Cape Sep- 

 pings and falling back to the northeast, is said by the natives to contain a great many reindeer and 

 mountain sheep. We saw many skins of the latter, also drinking-cups and ladles made of their 

 horns, among the natives at Hotham Inlet. During the afternoon the wiud hauled to northeast 

 and breezed up, enabling us to carry fore and aft sail. On the following morning we arrived at 

 Point Hope and came to auchor under its lee, the wind Laving increased to a gale with snow-squalls. 



The whaling bark Sea Breeze, Captain McKenna, was at anchor, having come iu for a harbor ou 

 account of the gale. Captain McKeuua reported having been as far north as Poiut Belcher, and 

 having communicated with the natives at that place. These had recently met the Poiut Barrow 

 natives on one of their hunting excursions, aud learned from them of the death of one of their old 

 men, a chief or leader among them. This old fellow was being treated by the native shaman at 

 the time of our visit to Point Barrow during the first cruise of the Corwin, and at my request the 

 ship's surgeon was allowed to see him. I made the followiug reference to him in my journal at the 

 time : " The sick man was brought to the door of the tent, when an examination by Surgeou Rosse 

 showed him to be suffering from paralysis of the left side and some disgusting skin disease. He 

 was a most pitiable object. The surgeon left some medicine for him, but it is probable that the 

 shaman did not allow him to take it, aud that he did not long survive the native treatment." The 

 Point Belcher natives also informed Captain McKenna that nothing had been heard on the coast 

 from any of the missing vessels. 



We lay at anchor under Point Hope until the morning of the 19th, wheu, the wind moderating a 

 little, we got under way and tried to work to the northward, but the wiud again increased before 

 we got north of the point, aud iu order to save coal we turned back, and, being short of water, ran 

 down the coast as far as Cape Thompson aud anchored off a small clear stream of very fine water 

 which empties into the sea at that place. Although anchored close in-shore, some difficulty was 

 experienced in getting a boat ashore, owing to the strength of the wiud. Advantage being taken 

 of a lull, an anchor was planted in the sand with a line attached from the ship, and the boats were 

 hauled back and forth without difficulty, thereby enabling us to take iu about eleven hundred gal- 

 lons of water. A few Point Hope natives encamped near the watering place were on the way to 

 Hotham Inlet, and had come on shore to wait for fine weather. Cape Thompson is a favorite 



