66 CEUISE OF THE NEPTUNE 



that the bay could only be approached with safety by sending 

 the launch ahead to sound. It was thought that too much pre- 

 cious time would be lost in this undertaking, especially as it 

 was known that a good harbour existed in the bay, where the 

 whaler Arctic had twice anchored, so we passed westward close 

 to the land in order to correct the survey made during the night 

 on the trip eastward. About thirty miles west of Deception bay 

 the mouth of another long narrow inlet, known as Sugluk bay, 

 was entered, and the ship continued five miles up it looking for 

 a convenient place for water. A shallow place was crossed at the 

 mouth of the bay, probably due to the ship being too close to 

 the eastern shore, but, inside, the water was found to be very 

 deep, and an anchorage could only be obtained on the edge of 

 the narrow mud banks close under the rocky cliffs of both 

 shores. 



In the small launch, the survey of the bay was continued to 

 its head, some five miles beyond, where the ship anchored. At 

 the head of the bay three families of natives were found, living 

 in a state of destitution. This was their first direct contact 

 with white men; they were somewhat shy and frightened, but 

 a present of tobacco and biscuit soon made all good friends. 

 These people do not visit any of the far away trading posts, but 

 trade their furs with their neighbours on the east or west for 

 guns and other articles of civilization. 



Considerable diificulty was experienced returning against a 

 very strong tide, and the ship was not reached until long after 

 dark. 



The following afternoon the remainder of the south coast was 

 surveyed to Cape Wolstenholme, where we arrived at dark; 

 then the ship was headed north across the strait for Salisbury 

 island, the eastern end of which was reached early next morn- 

 ing. Following close along the steep rocky shores of the 

 northern side, the northeast point was reached at noon. The 



