452 SECOND VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 



1823. boats constantly employed whenever the weather would permit, for the three 



July. 



succeeding weeks. 



Wed. IG. On the 16th Lieutenant Iloppncr and his party returned to the ships, 

 having only been enabled to travel to the south shore of Cockburn Island, 

 on account of their guides not yet proceeding any farther. Two of the 

 Esquimaux accompanied our travellers back to Igloolik and, being loaded 

 with various useful presents from the .ships, retiu-ned home the following 

 day. Lieutenant Hoppner's account of his journey, comprising several 

 anecdotes tending to shew the disposition and habits of these people, is 

 here given in his own words. 



o' 



5 " We left the ship at fifteen minutes past eleven P.M. on the 4th, 



and arrived at the Esquimaux tents about five in the morning. The 

 Esquimaux were all asleep, but being disturbed by the noise of our arrival, 

 they flocked round us to know the cause of so early a visit. Our intention of 

 accompanying them seemed to afford great amusement, and many jokes were 

 passed apparently at our expense. Having rested about two hours, we were 

 disturbed by the whispers and stifled laugh of the women and children ; and 

 on going out found the tents all struck, the men already gone, and every 

 appearance of the party, with whom we intended to travel, having ftiirly given 

 us the slip. This unexpected departure somewhat embarrassed us; but we im- 

 mediately prepared to follow them, and were relieved from our anxiety by find- 

 ing that they were still at the edge of the ice. Perceiving we were really in 

 earnest, and that our dogs, of which they had only a few wretched animals, were 

 likely to be of use to them, Erichiuk suffered us to place the loads upon his 

 sledge. We left Keiyuk-tarruoke at thirty minutes past nine, in company with 

 four other sledges ; and after clearing the grounded hummocks, travelled at 

 a good pace in a north-easterly direction. When wc got about five miles from 

 Igloolik, the water became knee deep on the ice, which rendered walking 

 extremely fatiguing. The men and several of the women dispersed them- 

 selves in all directions in pursuit of seals ; whilst the sledges were left entirely 

 to the management of the females who remained by them. Our assistance 

 soon became necessary, and before the end of the day wc quite gained their 

 favour. It was at first the intention of the men to go to Tern Island to collect 

 eggs, but about seven P.]\I. the weather assuming a threatening appear- 

 ance, they determined to encamp on the ice. The number of stoppages, and 



