A CRUISE IN THE RESCUE. 



115 



way for the purpose of taking a party of us over to an inlet on 

 the opposite side of Field Bay. It was intended by the captain 

 to examine this and other places to see their availability for fish- 

 ing depots, and I gladly took the opportunity of accompanying 

 him. 



While heaving up anchor, an incident occurred that served 

 well to illustrate the character of the Innuit Ugarng. His third 

 wife, Kun-ni-u, with the captain and myself, were at the windlass 

 brake, and it was quite an amusing sight to behold us. Pres- 

 ently we had to stop for a moment, and, on commencing again, / 

 Kunniu could not quickly lay hold; whereupon her husband, 

 who was standing by, looking on with a sort of dignity, as if he 

 were lord of all he surveyed, at once ordered her to go ahead ; 

 and when she grasped the brake, he turned and strutted about the 

 deck in quite an independent manner. 



Two boats had to tow us out of the harbor, owing to there be- 

 ing no wind, and we passed through a channel between two small 

 islands that was probably never navigated before. One man 

 went aloft to con the way, and I stood on the bow to watch for 

 rocks under water. Several I saw far down — some at five and 

 ten fathoms deep, and looking white and yawning ; but they were 

 harmless, even had they been much nearer the surface, for the 

 Rescue only drew eight feet water. 



At 8 A.M. a light breeze filled the sails, and, taking up our 

 boats, away we went across the waters of the bay. A course 

 nearly due south was steered, somewhat westerly of Bear Sound, 

 and in due time we approached the opposite shores, where some 

 wild and rocky, but magnificent scenery was presented to our 

 view. At 2 P.M. we turned into one of three or four entrances 

 that led, by a safe channel, into a long and beautiful bay. On 

 either side of us were towering mountains, one especially of a 

 bold and lofty character, with its peak looking down majestically 

 into the waters below. 



The breeze had now somewhat freshened from the N.E., and 

 was sending us along full five knots an hour. Great was the ex- 

 citement; most exhilarating the whole scene. We were in wa- 

 ters quite new to us, and approaching Frobisher Straits — then, at 

 least, so believed by me. Our lady-Esquimaux pilot, Kunniu, 

 guided us safely on, but care was also needed ; Morgan, therefore, 

 went aloft to look out, and I again took my place on the bowsprit 

 end. Occasionally a huge white old rock peered up its head, as 



