OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 



457 



sets of observations for the chronometer, in long. 00° 46' 22" E. of the ships' 

 winter station. The ice was so full of cracks and holes that it was with diffi- ^Sv*i 

 culty the sledge could proceed, and it was only enabled to stand the heavy 

 shocks it received by the looseness of its construction. Two large seals being- 

 seen on the ice, the sledges stopped while two of the Esquimaux went in 

 pursuit of them. It was full two hours before they got close to one of them, 

 which they effected by crawling feet foremost towards the animal ; one man 

 lying concealed behind the other who, by scraping the ice with his spear, 

 and moving his feet in imitation of a seal's-flippcr, deceived the animal until 

 they got within six or seven yards of it. They then remained stationary 

 some time as if to accustom the seal to them ; when at length .the nearest 

 man, springing on his feet, darted his spear which however striking a bone 

 did not take effect. Notwithstanding the quickness of the movement, the 

 animal was half down the hole before the spear quitted the man's hand. 

 At four o'clock, having advanced about fourteen miles along shore to the 

 westward, the party stopped at a rocky point, where they signified their 

 intention of remaining some days. A few miles to the westward a low point 

 ran out with several small islands off it. Beyond this point was an exten- 

 sive opening, which the Esquimaux represented to be a bay which they go 

 up on their route to Toonoonee-roochiuk. Dunn joined us about an hour 

 after our arrival, with the intelligence of having killed a deer five or six 

 miles to the westward. By promising the Nerooka*, a sledge was easily 

 procured, upon which my two men went, accompanied by one of the Esqui- 

 maux, to bring it in. Our provisions being nearly expended, I desired 

 the men to endeavour to bargain with their companion for his sledge to carry 

 us to Neerlonakto ; whilst I also endeavoured to hire one in the event of 

 their failure. In the evening Erichiuk and some others had a long conversa- 

 tion about the ships going to Toonoonee-roochiuk, an event they seemed 

 very anxious to bring about. He persisted in saying it was practicable for 

 them to go by a western route ; and as he still continued positive after I had 

 explained to him that we found the Strait blocked up by ice last summer, 

 I concluded that he alluded to some other opening which the formation of 

 the land precluded us from seeing at present. 



v The man who had promised us his sledge the preceding evening, now Mon. 14. 



* A part of the deer, before mentioned by Captain Lyon, as considered a great delicacy by 

 these people. 



3 N 



