212 SECOND VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 



complied with ; but, on their arrival at the village, his companions left him 

 lying there till their huts were built. All the Esquimaux pressed our gen- 

 tlemen very strongly to sleep at the village, but one of the women gave 

 Mr. Bird an indiiR-rcnt specimen of her hospitality by picking his pocket of 

 a handkerchief, though not so dexterously as to escape detection. The few 

 who visited the ships to-day told us, that they were all about to leave Winter 

 Island on the morrow ; and Okotook and Iligliuk, who had not yet returned, 

 came on board among the rest to pay a last visit. I gave the former a large 

 j)iece of oak-wood for a bow and two arrows, a second iron spear-head, and 

 various other useful articles, to add to the stock of wealth he had from time 

 to time received from us. As these good folks found themselves perfectly at 

 home in my cabin, I was usually in the habit of continuing my occupations 

 when they were there, without being disturbed by them. Being now en- 

 gaged in writing, my attention was unexpectedly directed towards them by 

 Iligliuk's suddenly starting from her seat, moving quickly towards the door, 

 and without saying a word, cither to me or any of the officers present, hasten- 

 ing direcUy on deck. Okotook indeed, as he followed her out of the cabin, 

 turned round and said " Good-bye," of which expression he had learned 

 the meaning, and then, without giving us time to return the compliment, 

 they both hurried out of the ship, leaving us in some astonishment at this 

 singular leave-taking which we then supposed to be the last. 

 Mon. 15. A case or two of inflammation in the eyes, producing partial " snow- 

 blindness," having lately occurred, I directed a quarter of a yard of crape, 

 supplied for that purpose, to be furnished to each man, to be worn as a 

 short veil over the eyes. At the same time were issued to each individual 

 in the Expedition a pair of boots and Avarm stockings, being part of a supply 

 of warm clothing with which we had been furnished, to be served gratis at 

 my discretion. This liberal addition to the men's clothing was particularly 

 acceptable at this time, as we were shortly about to commence cutting the 

 ice round the ships, preyious to making any alteration in the stowage of their 

 holds. While preparations were making for this work, it was suggested to 

 me that, strongly as the ice was now cemented to the ships' sides, we might, 

 by cutting a trench round their bows to the depth of three or four feet, (taking 

 care not to admit the water,) have an opportunity of examining the planks, 

 and caulking the seams where they were most likely to require it. This 

 plan was adopted, and was found completely to answer the purpose for 

 which it was intended 



