74 CRUISE OF STEAMEE CORWIN IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 



the following we continued southward, sometimes under steam and sail, and at others under sail 

 alone. The wind increased during the 23d to a strong gale ; weather thick and rainy; sounded 

 every half hour-, vessel making good weather under short sail ou two-hour tacks. 



At 3.40 a. m., August 24, the fog cleared away and gave us a fine view of the coast from Saint 

 Lawrence Bay to Indian Point. Shaping a course for Indian Point, we made the best of our way, 

 hoping to reach Plover Bay before dark, as our coal supply would not last through auother night. 

 Our uoon observations showed a current of 75 miles northeast by north (true) from 4 a. m. of 

 the 22d to meridian of the 24th. We passed Indian Point at 11 a. in., and arrived at Plover 

 Bay at 6 p. m., and came to anchor near the coal pile, having less than one ton of coal left in the 

 bunkers. We found at Plover Bay the schooner Golden Fleece, under ch arter by the United States 

 Signal Service to convey Lieutenant Ray, U. S. A., and party to Point Barrow for the purpose of 

 establishing a signal station at that place. Lieutenant Ray had put into Plover Bay for the purpose 

 of rating his chronometers. The Golden Fleece sailed from San Francisco on the 17th of July, and 

 brought letters and papers to that date. Through them we learned of the attempted assassination 

 of the President, but from the accounts up to that time we were led to hope for his recovery. I 

 gave Lieutenant Ray a fine dog-sled and a few suits of deer-skin clothing; also a number of deer- 

 skins not made up. Mr. Nelson had on board a very fine sled, which he had used in his journeys 

 in the interior of Alaska ; this he very generously presented to Lieutenant Ray. The duties upon 

 which this officer has entered are of great importance, and their successful performance necessarily 

 entails much hardship and danger. 



On the morning of the 25th we took the Golden Fleece in tow and steamed out of the harbor, 

 giving her an offing, after which wfe returned to the coal pile and began coaling ship with the boats. 



The following day we completed filling the bunkers and watered ship. The day being fine I 

 took advantage of it to visit a "deerman" at the head of Plover Bay, accompanied by Professor 

 Muir and Mr. Nelson, and two Plover Bay natives to act as pilots and interpreters. We made an 

 early start in the steam cutter, and after many assurances by the natives that we would " pretty 

 soon see him," about noon we espied two native houses on a point at the extreme head of the bay, 

 and soon after came to anchor in a small cove and went on shore. 



Although this point is at the head of the bay, the valley continues on for many miles. The 

 point upon which the houses are situated makes off from the east side of the valley as a low ridge 

 extending nearly across the valley. It is separated on the west by an arm of the bay aud a small 

 stream of water which runs down the valley and empties into the bay. It is a picturesque place, 

 and the day spent there was one never to be forgotten. On the highest part of the poiut near the 

 end we saw the remains of two houses built and occupied by a party of Americans in the employ 

 of the Western Uuion Telegraph Company during the winter of 1865-'G(i. The native houses were 

 of the true Tchuktchi type, such as we had found at all points along the coast of Asia. The 

 largest was occupied by the deerman aud his family, consisting of wife, daughter, and two sons, 

 and the smaller by an aged couple who, as we were assured, although in no way related to the 

 deerman, were permitted to live upon his bounty. No better illustration could be shown of the 

 thorough independence aud self reliance of the Tchuktchi deermen than this small colony of only 

 seven persons living here in this most inhospitable region, with no want misapplied by their 

 herds, and what a lesson in charity is taught by the care of these two aged people by the deerman 

 aud his family. The objects of his generosity possess no claim upon him, and he expects no 

 reward. To the unsophisticated mind of the savage the fact that these old people are in want 

 aud he possesses the means of relieving them is sufficieut. He has no thought of turning them 

 off; they are as safe in his bounty as if under the immediate charge of some civilized charitable 

 institution— possibly more so. These natives received us in a very friendly manner, spreading 

 deer-skins on the ground for us to rest on aud offering us food to eat, and although our civilized 

 tastes and prejudices compelled us to decline the latter, we could not but admire the spirit of hos- 

 pitality which prompted the offers. After a few friendly interchanges of civilities through the 

 interpreter, aud some presents of needles, thread, and tobacco, we made known our desire to see 

 their herds of reindeer, and, if possible, to purchase a carcass for food. Knowing their objection 

 to selling live deer, we carefully avoided the meutioa'of such a thing, lest they should become 



