454 SECOND VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 



j^"^"^ hill about three miles N.E.b.E. from the tents, -we saw a wide expanse of 

 ^^~r^ ice, bounded by high land to the northward, apparently about the same dis- 

 tance as Neerlo-nakto was from us. Its eastern point, which seemed low, 

 bore E.N.E., and was nearly in a line with the north point of the easternmost 

 of the Calthorpo Islands. Our view to the westward was bounded beyond 

 N.W. by the land we stood on, which however did not appear to approach 

 that seen to the northward. A strait, about three miles in breadth, and of the 

 same length, separated the land we were on from the Calthorpe Islands. 

 This channel was clear of ice, appeared deep, and had a strong tide or current 

 setting through it to the southward. I endeavoured to learn from the Esqui- 

 maux whether the land joined to the westward and formed a l)ay, but was 

 unsuccessful in my inquiries. This inlet was named after Captain SiuMumiAY 

 Maxwell, of the Royal Navy. In the evening we visited the tent of the old 

 man from Toonoonek. He was an Angetkok and seemed fond of exhibiting 

 his skill. He sat with his arms drawn out of the sleeves of his jacket and 

 apparently folded over his breast, but in reality employing his fingers taj)ping 

 upon the skins he sat on. This noise I was told was made by his Tornga, or 

 spirit, and a great many questions were put to him by the bystanders ; these 

 were answered by tapping in a particular manner, and the sounds were 

 then interpreted by the craft of the old Angetkok. 

 g " A fine day ; nearly all the men went out sealing, accompanied by some 



of the women regularly equi])pcd for the hunt. Our people returned in 

 the evening with the carcass of a deer ; they had been ten or twelve miles 

 to the westward, in which direction they said the land improved in vegetation ; 

 but the few living creatures which they saw were as wild as those in the 

 vicinity of the tents, 

 q " The weather being very inclement on the 9th, confined every body within 



the tents. In the afternoon there was a dance at the Angctkok's, where nearly 

 the whole party was assembled. The old man opened the ball by a performance 

 which seemed a medley of conjuring and dancing ; several other men stood up 

 after him, and last of all his son : when he had finished most of the company 

 retired, upon which he rushed into the tent, and seizing his youngest wife 

 by the hair heather severely. She seemed at first inclined to resist, and took 

 up a tin-pot, as if intending to throw it at him ; he immediately kicked her 

 out of the tent, and struck her several heavy blows with a walrus tusk. His 

 other wife, fearing what was to follow, had placed her child in her hood, 

 as if to protect hei-self from the wrath of her husband. Having satisfied his 



