VOYAGE TO THE BAY 



21 



an old Eskimo, named Scotty, were secured as pilot for the 

 launch, while another, Gilbert, consented to pilot the ship to 

 Fullerton harbour. 



The crew of the launch consisted of the second mate, third 

 engineer, a fireman, sailor, the interpreter, Scotty and myself. 

 We left the ship early on the morning of the 23rd, and the 

 launch behaved admirably in the heavy head sea raised by the 

 recent gale. A southerly course was followed, past Depot 

 island, but the numerous shoals gradually forced us away from 

 the mainland, so that the boat was ten miles from the main- 

 land at the mouth of Chesterfield inlet, and even at that distance 

 considerable difficulty was experienced in keeping clear of the 

 shoals. They were eventually passed without mishap, and the 

 course was changed to westward along the south side of Promise 

 island, and then along that of the inlet, so that by dark we were 

 fifty miles above its mouth. After steaming twenty miles 

 farther, on the following morning the lower Eskimo settlement 

 was reached, situated on a large bay on the north side of the 

 inlet. All the men were absent hunting deer, and although 

 there were many skins about the encampment, the women would 

 not part with them without the permission of the men. The 

 latter were not expected back until the next evening, so it was 

 determined to continue on to the upper encampment, located 

 thirty miles above the lower, on the southern channel, past 

 Bowell island, where the inlet discharges from Baker lake. 

 This encampment was reached early in the afternoon, and the 

 absent hunters were signalled for with smoke. They arrived 

 about two hours after us, and a lively barter was kept up until 

 after dark, upwards of fifty skins and a considerable quantity 

 of meat being purchased for powder, tobacco, knives and files. 

 Four tents of Eskimos were at this place, which is a noted 

 crossing of the deer in their annual migrations to the north and 

 south. Great numbers had already been killed, and half-putrid 

 heads were scattered in all directions about the tents. 



