84 



CRUISE OF STEAMER COKWIN IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 



supposed. On windy days in summer a cloud of dust can always be seen on the lee side of the 

 higher peaks, and the sound of the detached pieces rolling down may frequently be heard. Banks 

 of snow which remain on the lower portions of the hills, after the peaks are bare, are sometimes 

 covered to a considerable depth in this way, by fragments ranging in size from a grain of sand to 

 several feet in diameter. 



CAPE DECEIT, KOTZEBUE SOUND. 



On the afternoon of the 12th of September we got under way and steamed to the head of 

 Kotzebue Sound, and about 7 p. m. anchored off a peculiar looking headland, named Cape Deceit, 

 in latitude 60° 07', longitude 162° 30' west. This cape is readily recognized by a detached rock off 

 its extreme end probably 200 feet in height. The cape was named by Beechey, who described it 

 as being " composed of a compact limestone, devoid of any visible stratification." A single native 

 came off to the vessel, in his kyack, and, darkness coming on soon after, he remained on board 

 during the night. This man, whose home was at the mouth of a small stream, nearly opposite 

 our anchorage, seemed quite intelligent, and after indulging in a hot supper and a smoke, became 

 quite talkative. He told us wonderful tales of the mammoth which he said lives in the interior 

 of the earth, and, coming to the surface occasionally, forms the beds of the rivers in which these 

 bones are found, by digging with his immense tusks, aud that, having completed this task, the 

 animal laid down and died. He assured us that they were often seen, but that unfortunately the 

 men who had seen them were up in the mountains. He told us of immense beds of fossil bones 

 about one day's travel inland, and also of a hot spring near them, in which the natives cooked meat 

 and fish. These stories were confirmed by our half-breed interpreter, Audruvski. We tested his 

 knowledge of the geography of the peninsula between Kotzebue and Norti n Sounds, but fouud it 

 very defective, aud did not amend our maps according to his suggestions. 



On the following morning a party went on shore from the vessel, but the wind breezing 

 on from the northwest directly on shore I was compelled to recall them, and, getting underway, 

 we steamed northward, passing Cape Espenberg about 6 o'clock in the evening, shaped a course 

 for Cape Prince of Wales. The night was clear and beautiful, and it was difficult to realize that 

 we were actually within the Arctic circle. 



On the afternoon of September 14 we passed Cape Prince of Wales about 4 p. in., having a 

 strong northerly current while in the straits, which we estimated at 3 knots per hour. The fol- 

 lowing day we arrived at Saint Michael's about 9 p. m. aud came to anchor in the outer bay. 

 We found here a portion of the prospecting party previously met at Goloviu Bay. They had 

 lost their schooner, she having been driven ashore during a gale of wind aud had stove in her 



