April, 1868.) From the Oo-glit Islands to CroMer River. 341 



by Sce-pitng-er, and the one now seeming- to exist on the north shores 

 of the Strait, as hnks in connection with the strange appearances of the 

 men, their dress, and footsteps. Some of Franklin's men must, lie 

 thought, have crossed over eastward to Parry's old region in the for- 

 lorn hope of reaching, perhaps, Cumberland Inlet and being rescued 

 by some vessel from Old England ; and they might be still alive, for 

 the last date of these stories was 1^64. 



Leaving- the islands early on the 1 6th, with Koo-loo-a as a trust- 

 worthy guide, he passed by Ping-it-ka-lik, crossed from that place, 

 over land so level and smooth, that it was difficult to tell it was not a 

 lake, and made his first new igloo on Hooper Inlet, about half a mile 

 from shore. The day following, making a fair progress across the 

 inlet, he came to an old deserted igloo, in which a dead fox was found. 

 Koo-loo-a built up a pillar of snow, on the top of which he left the 

 animal erect, its tail standing straight out and two of its legs in the 

 position for walking, in which they had been found. Tracks of the 

 wolf, the deer, the fox, and of partridges were seen. Near the islands, 

 at the head of the inlet, tidal action was seen to have made the ice 

 very rough. 



Their next igloo was built on Quilliam Creek, at the early hour 

 of 2 a. m. of the 17th. From the head of this creek, they en- 

 deavored to shorten their route to the west branch of Crozier River, 

 but the roughness of the land, compelling them to make zigzag 

 courses, prevented any gain of time. Koo-loo-a pointed out on the 

 southern side of the river a place where e-ker-lu (salmon) abound, and 

 said that Parry had caught many there at his tenting-place. 



Upon Crozier River they passed through a magnificent gorge 

 from 50 to 75 feet in width, to avoid some impassable snow-drifts in 



