PASSAGE THROUGH THE ICE 71 



at any rate we have reached Point Barrow, and none of the 

 steamers has shown up yet. 



At 5 P.M. we anchored two miles north of the station, not 

 far from the Mount Ray. Mr. Leffingwell, Dr. Howe, and 

 myself went over there to ask the captain, Mr. Fowley, what 

 he thought of the condition of the ice, and he confirmed the 

 statements of our visitors in the afternoon. We spent a couple 

 of pleasant hours on board, and went ashore to shoot the ducks 

 which in large flocks were passing over the narrow sand-spit 

 on their way south. However, it was too foggy, and we could 

 not see the ducks clearly enough, and had to go on board with 

 very little to show for our pains. 



Thursday, August 16. Dr. Howe and myself went up to the 

 whaling station to-day. It was a very large house, and, judg- 

 ing from the amount of boats, a large whaling industry must be 

 carried on from there in spring. Most of the natives were 

 away on fishing trips, but we could see their houses, almost all 

 frame houses, at least in the neighbourhood of the station. 

 We went over to the Mission, but Mr. Spriggs had gone down 

 to the Thetis to get the mail, as they were afraid that the 

 boat would not be able to get in this year. We all regretted 

 having missed him. Mrs. Spriggs, however, was very kind, 

 and we had a pleasant time in her house. She, too, thought it 

 rather improbable that we should be able to round Point 

 Barrow for a while, and as she has been here six years she is 

 likely to know a little about it. In the evening we gave a small 

 party on board for the white men ashore, where Messrs. Hadley 

 and Hobson amused the company with some clever songs. 



No steamers in sight yet ! 



Friday, August 17. Mr. LefBngwell and myself went ashore 

 for a long walk to talk things over. We are beginning to 

 realize that we may possibly have to stay here, but, of course, 

 the conditions may change quickly in this country. The 

 steamers came in while we were ashore, and we went on board 

 to find out what they thought of the conditions. It is strange 

 that the current, which in most other years is running up along 

 the coast, should this year, almost without exception, have 

 been setting down at an average of nearly two miles per hour. 

 The wind has been blowing from magnetic N.E. practically 

 all of the latter part of the spring and summer, and the general 



