April, 18G9.] New Igloos Discovered. 389 



The dogs had now again a whole day's rest and a full feed of 126 

 pounds of Ixow ; then with full paunches they filled out the twenty- 

 four hours with sleep. Not one of the eighteen had as yet given in, 

 although their loads on the two sledges, including their food and the 

 oil for fuel and eating, had been kept up to 2,100 pounds. The party 

 made another excellent breakfast, chiefly on the canned beef sent out 

 by Mr. Grinnell on the Ansell Gibbs in 186G ; it was better than what 

 had been previously used, as the whole of the meat was fat, with no 

 bones to be picked out, and more than satisfied their hunger, leaving 

 a portion for use on the way. Hall now hoped that he would make 

 good progress, and within ten days would put his foot on King Will- 

 iam's Land. 



On resuming their journey, an igloo was seen which, it was at 

 once determined, had been newly built, the quick perceptions of t^he 

 Innuits crediting also its building to a left-handed man, for they saw 

 that the spiral of the hut ran from the left to the right inside, contrary 

 to the usual direction. The discovery of this igloo with its well-made 

 took-soo suggesting the near presence of Pelly Bay natives, Hall sent 

 out some of his company to find, if possible, their sledge-tracks ; but 

 although three additional old igloos were seen, the natives were not yet 

 overtaken. The huts last discovered had evidentl}^ been occupied in 

 midwinter, and the occupants had had plenty of fire. Within one of 

 these Hannah found a piece of ash wood, appearing to be the remains 

 of an oar. 



When he left his last encampment. Hall had intended to make 

 directly for the west side of the bay, and thence cross the land to 

 the west, in order to look for the records and relics at some southern 

 point on the sea estuary of Great Fish or Back River ; but now, seek- 



