168 TRAVELS OF ESQUIMAUX. Chap. IX. 



500 miles ; and the information given us of 

 Rae's wintering at Repulse Bay, information 

 whicli must have travelled here in two winters, 

 shows that these natives communicate at still 

 greater distances. 



Did other wrecks exist nearer at hand, our 

 Pond's Bay friends would be much better sup- 

 plied with wood. If the Esquimaux knew of 

 any within 300, 400, or even 500 miles, the 

 Pond's Bay natives would at least have heard 

 of them, and could have had no reason for 

 concealing it from us. I only regret that we 

 had not the good fortune to see more than a 

 few natives, and but two sledges of ship's 

 planking ; otherwise our ovni information might 

 have been more copious, and the origin of the 

 fresh supply of planking decisively ascertained. 



