1875 ICE-BOAT. (J 3 



barbata), the oo-sook of the Greenlanders, was shot, 

 also five eider ducks, one or two dovekies, and a 

 little auk, a contrast to the large amount of game 

 obtainable at Port Foulke. Along the margin of the 

 shore of Payer Harbour were several rings of stones 

 marking the summer tents of Eskimo. The fragments 

 of bone scattered about these spots were lichen-covered 

 and friable, showing that they were of great antiquity. 

 Traces of a more recent visit were, however, observed, 

 and a harpoon was found with a tip of wrought iron. 



The ice remaining closed during the 2nd, and the 

 light wind holding out no prospect of its opening, I 

 thought it advisable to occupy the time by sending a 

 party round Cape Sabine to ascertain the nature of the 

 coast-line. I also wanted to see whether a twenty-foot 

 ice-boat could be carried on an eight-man sledge, the 

 only one we had ready. The boat having been lashed 

 on to the sledge, I started with Commander Markham, 

 Lieutenants Aldrich and May, and five strong men, 

 but after advancing about a mile, in consequence of 

 the boat being too long for the sledge and the ice 

 encountered being extremely rough, we gave up 

 the attempt and returned on board. The fifteen-foot 

 boat, which fitted the sledge, was dragged easily 

 enough, but it was then too late in the day to start 

 again, as I was in hopes of the evening's flood-tide 

 opening up the ice, and permitting an advance with 

 the ships. The evening, however, turned out calm 

 with a fog, and the ice remained closed. 



A light southerly wind on the 3rd, giving hopes 

 of a change in the ice, kept me anxiously looking out 

 from the nearest hill-top. At 9 a.m., the north-running 



