48 HUNTING WITH THE ESKIMOS 



After a most refreshing rest I crossed the bay to 

 hunt hare, and unexpectedly came upon three graves, 

 one of them marked with a flat stone bearing the in- 

 scription: "August Sontag. Died December 29, 

 1860." The two other graves were unmarked by 

 head-stones, and I resolved to return later and fix 

 up decently the graves of these Arctic explorers, for 

 they had been long neglected. 



This whole section, from Etah northward, has a 

 peculiar interest in the history of Polar research. 

 Smith Sound has witnessed the struggles and defeat 

 of many expeditions and the rocks and cliffs that line 

 its shores on either side, could they but speak, might 

 tell the story of many tragedies. 



In a long tramp over the hills that day I killed 

 three hares. I had intended upon my return to go 

 walrus hunting, but a high north wind sprang up and 

 rendered this impossible ; so I busied myself banking 

 up my shack with stones and gravel, and then sallied 

 forth for another walk, with Sipsu, one of my 

 Eskimo companions. 



Thus my time was occupied for several days. 

 More banking-up had to be done about the shack, 

 provisions had to be cared for and piled where they 

 would be snug and dry, safe from the driving storms 

 of wind and snow to come later; and our old whale- 

 boat not the power-boat had to be painted. With 

 all this to do I had no lonesome days and no regretful 

 hours. 



It had been arranged that another supply base 

 should be established at Annootok, and we were to 



