A NATURALISTS ADVENTURES 



Eskimo have been here recently; quantities of broken 

 skulls of walrus and other animals lie around. Great 

 pieces of whalebones are imbedded in the ground in many 

 places. Lichens are abundant and some on the rocks are 

 very pretty. We found a number of implements, princi- 

 pally of wood. Heaps of burned bones are frequent. The 

 Eskimo burn the bones to appease the spirit dwelling in 

 the animal, fearing a failure in future hunting if this mark 

 of respect be withheld. 



As far as the eye can see here, the country is low and 

 flat. A great lagoon lies between the spit and the main- 

 land, in many places so shoal that a whaleboat cannot go 

 through at low tide. Drinking water is found by digging 

 a few feet. 



Thursday, August 26 



We have seen the packed ice often to-day and lots of 

 whales. We went aboard the whaling barque " Hunter " 

 of New Bedford, Captain Fisher, and saw them cutting 

 in a 100-barrel " bowhead." Secured some of the black 

 skin, blubber and whiskers, which appendage is very little 

 known in connection with whales and scarcely referred to 

 in any of the books. The " Hunter " had eleven whales, 

 and her boats were in chase of another before we left. Met 

 the " Corwin " a little after 7 o'clock and soon afterward 

 anchored near Point Belcher. Very soon two bidarras of 

 natives were on board. Captain Herendeen traded for 

 some reindeer meat. The men have most astonishing 

 labrets, and do not seem to beg as the Cape Lisburne 

 fellows did. 



Wounded a jaeger as we passed the " Hunter " but it 

 fluttered away before we got it. The species was abund- 

 ant around the ship and there were a few gulls. 



Friday, August 27 



The natives here do not beg, and it is easy to trade with 

 them. Some of the labrets worn seem to have been made 

 of glass beads set in stone or bone — the largest I saw was 

 perhaps one and one-fourth inches in diameter. The 

 jaeger and snowy owl are common. Longspur and stone- 

 chat are more plentiful than anywhere else so far as ob- 

 served by me. Phalaropes are here in large flocks. Eider 



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