144 A Beported Earthquake. [Febru«i-y, isws. 



ney. The natives were living on short commons, because of tlieir recent 

 ill success in hunting. Ebierbing, on the day following, while on an 

 unsuccessful walrus hunt, killed one of a large flock of eider-ducks 

 (Mei-titl's), of the weight of which Hall satisfied himself by first bal- 

 ancino- it with the two books "The Fate of Franklin" and " Burritt's 

 Geography of the Heavens" in a tin kettle, and then balancing these 

 volumes with a bag of rifle-balls. He found the weight of the duck 

 to be that of 312 rifle-balls, =i 6 pounds. The bird had in its gizzard 

 snail-shells in perfect condition, which were preserved for examination 

 as to their species. 



On the 17th, at 50 minutes past noon, a low rumbling noise was 

 heard, resembling that of a train of cars slowly crossing a bridge and 

 dying gradually away. The Innuits said that a like noise had been 

 heard twice during Hall's absence, coming from the southeast, and 

 continuing for a long time, and spoke of it as Toon-giva, the bad Spirit, 

 shaking the earth. During a new performance by the an-ge-Jco, to 

 which he summoned all hands at midnight, he issued the order that 

 the kook-higs must not be emptied, nor the frost scraped from the ice- 

 windows of the igloos till sunrise. This order, however, was accom- 

 panied by another decree for an exchange of wives; and on his own 

 wife's refusal to go to Ebierbing's hut for this purpose, the An-ge-ko, 

 (Ar-too-a,) beat her most unmercifully. 



A few days after, fourteen of the Innuits moved a few miles 

 southward, ostensibly to be nearer the seal and walrus grounds and 

 their depositaries of reindeer-meat. About an equal number, includ- 

 ing his two fast friends, remained with Hall. Shoo-slie-ark-nook, 

 through some ill feeling, had endeavored to persuade every one to 

 desert him. During this native's sickness and that of his son. Hall 

 had closel}' watched both, and saved them when at death's door. For 



