CRUISE OF STEAMER CORWIN IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 61 



case she would undoubtedly sink and carry with her the last clew by which we might hope to gain 

 a knowledge of the fate of her men. The season of 1881 was remarkably open and the ice very 

 light, and it seems almost impossible that a wreck could have been floating around the sea without 

 being discovered by some of the vessels which were constantly cruising back and forth from June 

 until October. It is with profound regret that I submit these melancholy facts, kuowing that they 

 must give pain to the friends of the lost men, and destroy any lingering hope which they may 

 have had. But certainly no good can be attained by concealing this knowledge and holding out 

 hope where no grounds for hope exist. Whatever their fate may have been we know that they 

 met it like brave men. 



During our stay atWankerem we made many visits to the shore, searching for relics from the 

 wreck, studying the character of the people, the natural history, botany, &c. The settlement con- 

 tains but a dozen houses or y.arangas, in all respects similar to those seen farther south, consist- 

 ing of an umbrella shaped frame covered with walrus hides, and having an inner sleeping-room 

 or polog made of deerskins. In one or two instances we saw pologs of polar-bear skins. The 

 skin boat or oomiac used by the natives is of superior make and better model than that in use far- 

 ther south, having less flaring sides and more shear. The general principles of construction were 

 the same, I saw but one kyack at Wankerem, and that was a very inferior one. They are used 

 but little. Walrus and seal hunting and fishing are the chief occupation of the inhabitants, varied 

 occasionally by a fight with a polar bear. When hunting the latter they always go in pairs, armed 

 with bow and arrow, spear and knife. The spear is the main dependence. The bow and arrow is 

 used for opening the tight. The two natives approach the bear from different directions, if possi- 

 ble, or at least sufficiently far apart to get the bear between them. When near enough an arrow 

 is shot into his side; the bear naturally turns his head in that direction, and the next instant he 

 is pierced through the heart by the spear in the hands of the other native. Of course a failure 

 to kill, through the breaking of the spear or other mishap, results in a fight at close quarters, in 

 which case the knife is used. The bearspear is a most formidable weapon. It is about 15 inches 

 long, with a handle (which fits into a socket) about 6 feet long by 1J inches in diameter. The spear 

 is about 1^ wide and one-fourth of an inch thick. It is ornamented on the socket and neck with 

 inlaid brass, and is kept very sharp and highly polished. The handle is also kept clean and bright. 

 It is the only weapon used by the natives on the Arctic shores of either continent that shows signs 

 of proper cure. About 2 feet from the spear the handle is wound around with a strip of seal skin 

 to prevent the hand from slipping when a thrust is made. 



The spears are bought at the Russian trading posts and are highly prized by the natives. They 

 were seen by us at every settlement visited on the Siberian side, and a similar spear, minus the 

 ornamentation, was seen in large numbers on Saint Lawrence Island, at the deserted villages. Pro- 

 fessor Nordenskjold refers to this spear in the Voyage of the Vega, but appears to have seen but 

 one and supposed it to be inlaid with gold, and states that it "probably formed a part of the booty 

 won long ago in fights with the Cossacks." The bows in use at Wankerem are the finest I have 

 ever seen, many being neatly covered with birch bark to preserve them from injury by moisture. 



At the time of our visit eider ducks were plentiful. Of these we saw three varieties, King eider, 

 Pacific eider, and Steller eider. They are taken by the natives in an ingenious manner. In passing 

 back and forth between the Wankerem Bay and River and the sea, they fly directly over the native 

 settlement in great numbeis, and are taken by means of a bird-sling called by them epluJcetat — 

 a number of balls (from seven to ten) of bone or ivory, about one inch in diameter and attached 

 to one end of the same number of pieces of line made of twisted sinew about one yard in lengthy 

 the other end of the lines being joined so as to form a handle. This sling is wound around the 

 head in such a manner as to be ready at all times for instant use. A number of small boys are 

 kept constantly on the watch, and when a flock of ducks is observed approaching, the alarm is given 

 and a general shout goes up as all the men rush out, The slings are taken in the right hand and 

 wheu the ducks are almost directly overhead, the sling, after describing a couple of circles in the 

 air, shoots up with its arms spread in every 7 direction like an aerial octopus and seldom fails to 

 bring down its game. The slightest touch is sufficient to bring the bird to the ground. Often half 

 a dozen are taken from oue flock. Of course in many cases they are but slightly injured, but escape 

 is impossible. Before the duck recovers from its surprise it is seized by the native, who places it 



