1 64 MV ARCTIC JOURNAL 



of the different birds, but will not allow the women to touch 

 them. It was amusing to see both Mane and M'gipsu eat 

 cake containing eggs, begging us not to tell their husbands, 

 and consoling themselves with the reflection that eggs did 

 not form the chief part of the cake. 



Wednesday, July 6. Another sunshiny day. Yesterday 

 morning two Eskimo boys came in, and reported that a whole 

 troop of natives were at Ittiblu on their way over from Netchi- 

 olumy. They are compelled to go up the gulf this far in order 

 to cross on the ice above the open water. 



The open water has now nearly reached Redcliffe, and is 

 full of birds. About five o'clock this morning fourteen natives 

 arrived, among whom are Mekhtoshay (the one-eyed man) and 

 his wife and boy, and Ingyahpahdu and his six children. 

 The one-eyed man brought his tent with him, a very small 

 one, but the others are camping with their neighbors — a 

 privilege which is generally permitted in traveling. We have 

 taken advantage of these numerous arrivals to continue our 

 series of ethnological photographs, and the doctor has been 

 kept busy posing, grouping, etc. Our settlement now num- 

 bers thirty-four natives, men, women, and children. 



Gibson has started off on a ten days' collecting-tour to the 

 head of the bay. He will leave the tent in Tooktoo Valley 

 for me, and I shall go as soon as he returns, taking provisions 

 enough to last till August 6th. If Mr. Peary has not returned 

 by that time then I shall come back to the house and get every- 

 thing ready for our homeward journey in the early autumn. 



