April, 1859. DEPOT ROBBED. 253 



back we retained his dog ; lie tried to steal a 

 tin vessel off one of the sledges, and perhaps it 

 was for the purpose of regaining our favour that 

 he made known to us, just as we were starting, 

 that his countrymen had followed my homeward 

 track in March, discovering my depot of blub- 

 ber, articles for barter, and two revolvers, and 

 carried them all off to Neitchlllee, — by no means 

 pleasant intelligence ; their dogs must have 

 enabled them to find the blubber by scenting 

 it, for it was buried under 4 feet of snow, and 

 strong winds obliterated all traces upon the 

 surface. 



I was now glad we had purchased both the 

 dogs of the men, as it would probably prevent 

 their seeking for our depots to the northward ; 

 the knowledge of the insecurity of all depots 

 amongst these people will keep us on our 

 guard for the future. I regretted the loss of 

 the pistols, as it left my party with no other 

 arms than two guns. 



Oo-na-lee told us when we first met him that 

 one of his countrymen was very sick ; not see- 

 ing a sick man in their huts, we forgot all about 

 it until after starting, when Petersen interpreted 

 to me Oo-na-lee's parting information, and told 

 me how he described that the breech of the 

 revolver turned round ; it then occurred to me 



