290 



SECOND VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 



July' " Arriving 0n tne * ce a s ^' m was taken from the sledge as a seat, and we all 

 v-rv squatted down to a repast which was quite new to me. In ten minutes the 

 natives had picked the deer's bones so clean that even the hungry dogs dis- 

 dained to gnaw them a second time. Dunn and myself made our breakfast 

 on a choice slice cut from the spine, and found it so good, the wind-pipe in 

 particular, that at dinner-time we preferred the same food to our share of the 

 preserved meat which we had saved from the preceding night. Of the ne- 

 rooka I also tasted a small portion on the principle that no man who wishes 

 to conciliate or inquire into the manners of savages should refuse to fare as 

 they do. I found this substance acid and rather pungent, resembling as near 

 as 1 could judge a mixture of sorrel and radish leaves. I conceive that the 

 acidity recommends it to these people. 



" As we sat I observed the mus qui toes to be very numerous, but they were 

 lying in a half torpid state on the ice and incapable of molesting us. I 

 obtained the meridian altitude which gave the lat. 69° 26' 48" N. ; the 

 western extreme of Igloolik bearing E.S.E. about fourteen miles. Soon after 

 noon we set forward on our return and, without seeing any object but the 

 flat and decaying ice, passed from land to land with our former celerity, 

 dashing through large pools of water much oftener than was altogether 

 agreeable to men who had not been dry for above thirty hours, or warm for 

 a still longer period. Our eleven dogs were large fine-looking animals, and 

 an old one of peculiar sagacity was placed at their head by having a longer 

 trace, so as to lead them over the safest and driest places, for these animals 

 have a great dread of water. The leader was instant in obeying the voice 

 of the driver, who did not beat but repeatedly talked to and called it by 

 name. It was beautiful to observe the sledges racing to the same object, 

 the dogs and men in full cry, and the vehicles splashing through the water 

 with the velocity of rival stage coaches. 



" We were joyfully welcomed to the dwelling of Ooyarra whose guest I was 

 now to become, and the place of honour, the deer-skin seat, was cleared for 

 my reception. His two wives, Kdi-moo-khidk and Awa-rim-ni, occupied one 

 end, for it was a double tent ; while at the opposite extremity the parents of 

 the senior wife were established. The old mother Noiv-Ht-yoo assisted the 

 young women in pulling off our wet clothes and boots, which latter being of 

 native manufacture, she new soled and mended without any request on our 

 side, considering us as a part of the family. Our knapsacks and clothes 

 being wet, we gladly turned, in presence of a dozen or more of visitors, into 



