Oct. 1857, " HAENESS JACK." 51* 



Petersen still hopes we may escape and get 

 into Upernivik, as the sea is not permanently 

 frozen over there before December. I am sur- 

 prised to hear that eagles have been seen so far 

 north as Upernivik, although it is but twice in 

 twenty-four years that specimens have been 

 noticed there. In Richardson's ' Fauna Boreali 

 Americana ' the extreme northern limit of these 

 birds is given as 66° ; but Upernivik is in 72 1°. 



A few bear and fox tracks have been seen, but 

 no living creatures for several days, except a 

 flock of ducks hastening southward and a soli- 

 tary raven. 



It is said that Esquimaux dogs will eat every- 

 thing except fox and raven. There are ex- 

 ceptions, however ; one of ours, old " Harness 

 Jack," devoured a raven with much gusto some 

 days ago. All the other dogs allowed their 

 harness to be taken off when they were brought 

 on board ; but old Jack will not permit himself 

 to be unrobed ; when attempted he very plainly 

 threatens to use his teeth. This canine oddity 

 suddenly became immensely popular, by consti- 

 tuting himself protecting head of the establish- 

 ment when one of his tribe littered ; he took up 

 a most uncomfortable position on top of the 

 family cask (our impromptu kennel), and pre- 

 vented the approach of all the other dogs ; but 



