12 CRUISE OF THE STEAMER CORWIN. 



From the captains of those vessels 1 learned that the four whalers left farther north were 

 then in no immediate danger. They were anchored hehind the ground ice between the Sea 

 Horse islands and Point Barrow, and, as l)ef(;rc stated, would lie compelled to remain until 

 the wind should drive the ice oft' shoni. 



Having thus learned of the safety of the vessels, and tinding our services were not likely 

 to lie required further, considering also the crowded condition of the vessel, we got under way 

 August 22 and started on our way to the southward. Before leaving the whaling fleet two of 

 the Mabel's crew shipjied on board the schooner Page for the remainder of the whaling season. 



On our way south we cruised along the shore, touched at Cape LisT)urne coaling station. 

 Point Hope, Cape Thompson, and Chamisso Island, and on August 27 anchored off Hotliam 

 Inlet. 



At Point Hope First Lieutenant Howison was detailed to visit the Indian village. He 

 found it temporarily deserted, as all the natives had gone either inland to hunt or farther 

 down the coast to fish, in both cases to make provisions for the coming winter. While Lieu- 

 tenant Howison was visiting the village, three men of the boat's crew, all formerly belonging 

 to the Mabel, entered some of the huts, stole whatever trinkets they could find and brought 

 them on board. Although the articles were of very little value, they were returned to the 

 huts on .shore, and the men confined in irons as a punishment for their action. No such depre- 

 dation has since been committed by any of the men lirought down by us. 



At Cape Thompson we took fresh water on board, and this was done whenever the oppor- 

 tunity offereil. as I deemed it necessary to keep a full supply on hand, on account of the large 

 number of people on board. 



At this and at all subsequent places where fresh water could be obtained, soap was served 

 to the men and they were compelled to go ashore and wash themselves and their clothing. 

 Some of the men comprising the whalers' crews were the filthiest I have ever seen, and seemed 

 to have no idea of personal cleanliness. The duty of making them keep themselves and cloth-, 

 ing clean, in order to avoid a contagion which tilth might cause in such crowded quarters, was 

 anything but jileasa-nt. One man, who 1 think was partially insane, was literally covered 

 with vci'min, as were also several others of the crews of the Avrecked whalers. 



At Chamisso Island no fresh water could be obtained, although in previous years I have 

 found it an excellent watering station. 



On our arrival at Hotham Inlet the exjjeditions which had been sent to explore the Kowak 

 and Noiltak Rivers, the former under Thii-d Lieutenant Cantwell and the latter in charge of 

 Second Assistant Engineer McLenegan, returned on lioard. having in both cases fully accom- 

 plished the objects for which they were sent. 



Lieutenant Cantwell's party consisted, besidi's himself, of Mr. C. H. Townsend, naturalist 

 of the Smithsonian Institution ; W. G. Marsh, seamau ; F. Lewis, fireman ; Myninck, the Indian 

 interpreter, who was taken on boai'd at St. Michael's; and from six to ten Indians, as occasion 

 required during the expedition. 



The steam-launch being too small to take all of Lieutenant Cantwell's supplies besides his 

 party, he procured a large skin boat froni the Indians, and was thus enabled to take his entire 

 outfit. 



Assistant Engineer McLenegan was attended by seaman Nelson only, as he was unable to 

 get an Indian to accc )m])any the expedition. The skin boat which was obtained at Ouualaska 

 was iised by hini iind his companion in their exploration. 



Hnth I'xpcditions exjiei-ienced many difficulties ami hardships, which at times seemed insur- 

 mountable. Tlieir persevera,nct' and labor overcame their trials, and they succeeded in reach- 

 ing the head of canoe navigation of hotli rivers: a feat which was never before achieved, and 

 one which has hitherto been considered impossiljle of accom])lishnient in the time given. 



Detaihid i'e])orts of the (>xpeditions are being prejjared. and will be forwarded to the De- 

 ])artraent as early as possibh-. 



Mr. Townsend, whileon the Kowak River, succeeded in making ornithological, ichthyologi- 

 cal, and entomological collections which will ])i-ove of much value to science, and which, with 

 his report, will be submitted to Professor Baird, of tlie Smithsonian Institution. 



