110 CRUISE OF STEAMER CORWIN IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 



this time bad developed iuto a raving maniac, to prevent bis inflicting farther injury upon him- 

 self. 



Tbe father of this young man was a wealthy deerman named Omniscott, living at Mechigue 

 Bay, from whom I expected to purchase a supply of deer skins for clothing ; therefore I was 

 anxious to please the son in order to gain the good will of the father, and on this account I bad 

 shown him particular attention, making him presents of tobacco, clothing, &c, but notwith- 

 standing this, it was evident that he regarded me with suspicion, secretly considering me his 

 enemy. While being conveyed to Plover Bay, after his attempt to end his own life, he offered 

 large rewards to the guard to allow him to escape and kill me while I slept. For several days 

 previous to this occurrence he had been in the habit of appearing suddenly at tbe cabin door. At 

 such times, I bad noticed a wild, unnatural look in his eyes, but attributed it to nervousness, the 

 result of being away from home and surrounded by strange people, and always endeavored to 

 make him feel at ease by giving him a small present, or ordering tbe steward to give him 

 something to eat. Asking a few questions about his son, a child five or six years of age, and for 

 whom he appeared to feel affection, bad the effect of changing bis manner. The wild look 

 disappeared, and he seemed to forget everything else in bis anxiety to see the child. I thought 

 but little of these visits at the time ; but in the light of the subsequent events, I feel sure that 

 he came to the cabin for the purpose of killing me. This failure to accomplish it was no doubt 

 due to tbe fact that when iu the cabin I usually sat at the table writing up my notes, with my 

 face towards the door, in order that I might see who entered without turning my head ; and 

 having arms always within reach, the native did not deem it safe to make the attempt unless he 

 could take me entirely unawares. Tbe cause of the poor fellow's insanity was probably the 

 presence of a large number of tbe bodies of dead Innuits from Saint Lawrence Island, taken on 

 board for the. National Museum at Washington. Tbe superstitious dread which he, in common 

 with his kind, held towards the dead, aided no doubt by hints and threats from the sailors, had 

 been too much for his naturally weak mind and driven him crazy. On our arrival at Plover Bay 

 he was turned over to tbe natives on shore, who promised to care for him. Having been a source 

 of great annoyance to me during bis stay on boaad. and although much relieved at seeing him 

 taken away, 1 felt at the same time great pity for the poor wretch as he left the side, cowering in 

 the bottom of the boat in mortal fear of being killed, and urging the men to " paddle quick before 

 the captain shoots me." Although his wound was a serious one, he recovered in a few days 

 sufficiently to walk to bis home, a distance of 200 miles. 



In pleasing contrast to this was our experience with " Joe," the young Tcbuktchi who acted 

 as interpreter and dog driver. Having determined to send a party along the Siberian coast to 

 investigate rumors of a wreck having been seen near Cape North, we stopped at Marcus Bay, on 

 tbe evening of May 28, to communicate with the natives and endeavor to engage the services of 

 an interpreter and purchase some dogs and sleds. We came to anchor, and were visited by a 

 party of natives, who clambered on board without ceremony. Upon being asked if any of them 

 could speak English, one of tbe party whose name we subsequently learned to be il Joe," was 

 pointed out with the remark, " He speak too much." I at once made Joe acquainted with the 

 nature of our business, and asked if he would accompany us with his dog team. At first he was 

 in doubt, and said, " I plenty 'fraid." But our assurance that be would be brought back in safety 

 and be well paid for his services quieted his fears, and be consented to go with us, and returned 

 to the shore to prepare for tbe journey. I followed, hoping by frequent references to the reward 

 to prevent a change of mind. As soon as the boat touched the shore Joe shot away like a deer 

 saying, " Pretty soon I come." In a few minutes he returned, completely changed iu appearance, 

 having substituted for his fur suit a less comfortable but more showy suit of blue flannel, 

 ornamented with red shoulder-straps, tbe boots being the only article of native apparel retained 

 by him. 



The effect of the change was very ludicrous, and caused a hearty laugh, in which Joe joined 

 good-naturedly. His wife accompanied him on board and remained until the vessel got under way 

 when she took her leave, sobbing and looking very unhappy, while Joe looked glum and smoked 

 bard, and apparently tried to relieve his mind by swearing at bis dogs in a mixture of English, 

 Tcbuktchi, and Kauaka. He soon recovered his spirits, however, and proved a valuable acquisi- 



