OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 



451 



recently deceased were now to be seen exposed in their neighbourhood. ^3. 

 What remained of the corpse of Keimobseuk was of course wholly uncovered ; 

 a second of a child on which the wolves had feasted, was also lying about ; 

 and a third, of a newly-born infant, was discovered in the middle of a small 

 lake by Mr. Richards, who caused them all to be buried under ground. All 

 this seemed to indicate, that the Esquimaux had not occupied the bone 

 huts for at least one winter previous to our arrival, though Igloolik cer- 

 tainly appears to be one of their principal rendezvous, forming, as it were, 

 a sort of central link in the very extensive chain of these people's peregri- 

 nations. 



On the 6th we despatched a party of four men, under Messrs. Crozier Sun. 6. 

 and Bird, to the fishing station at Quilliam Creek, equipping them with a 

 trawl-net and every other requisite for obtaining a supply of salmon for 

 the ships. Soon after Captain Lyon, who was desirous of occupying a few 

 days in shooting in that neighbourhood, also set off in the same direction, 

 taking with him a small skin-boat which he had constructed for the use of our 

 fishermen, and which proved of great service in shooting the net across 

 the mouth of the stream. 



Our stock of meat for the dogs being nearly expended, and no sea-horses 

 having yet been seen near the shore, I sent Mr. Ross with a sledge to Tern 

 Island on the 13th,. in expectation of being supplied by the Esquimaux. Sun. 13. 

 Mr. Ross returned on the 14th without success, the whole of the natives Mon. 14, 

 having left the island after plundering the birds' nests, as they had clone the 

 preceding year. The open water was at this time about a mile and a half 

 short of the island, differing little, if .any thing, from its position at the 

 same season of the last year. The birds now the most abundant here, 

 besides tern which were also numerous, were eider-ducks, of which im- 

 mense flocks were flying about ; and it is their eggs for which the Esqui- 

 maux principally visit the island. 



Finding that our valuable dogs must be now wholly dependent on our Tues. 15. 

 own exertions in providing meat, a boat from each ship was carried down 

 to the neighbourhood of the open water, and shortly afterwards two others, 

 to endeavour to kill walruses for them. This was the more desirable from 

 the probability of the Fury's passing her next winter where no natives 

 were resident, and the consequent necessity of laying in our stock for that 

 long and dreary season, during the present summer. Our people therefore 

 pitched their tents near the old Esquimaux habitations ; and thus were four 



3 M 2 



