194 



ARCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



CHAPTER XL 



A January Sledge Excursion to Cornelius Grinnell Bay.— Rough Traveling overland. 

 —High Cliffs. — Descent of the Sledge on to the frozen Sea.— Camp on the Ice.— 

 First Night in an Igloo. —Proceed on the Journey.— Dangerous Traveling.— 

 Second Night on the Ice.— Detention.— Cold.— An icy Beard.— Hair-cutting.— 

 A Storm. — Disruption of the Ice. — Fearful Peril. — Cessation of the Gale. — Con- 

 tinue the Journey. — Ice on the Move in every Direction. — Deep Snow. — Treach- 

 erous Footing. — Laborious Work — Arrive at Rogers's Island. — Great Thirst. — In- 

 nuit Welcome.— A Cup of Water.— Hospitality.— Light, Warmth, and Food.— 

 Night's Rest. — Disappearance of the Ice. — Remarkable Preservation. — Frostbites. 

 — A serviceable pocket Mirror. — Bad Weather. — Whaleskin eaten as Food. — 

 Attempted Return to the Ship.— Author's weak State.— Innuit Seal-hunting.— 

 Starving Condition of the Party. 



Having a great desire to try and do something in the way of 

 exploring, and particularly to accustom myself to actual life among 

 the Innuits, I at length determined to venture on an excursion by 

 sledge and dogs to Cornelius Grinnell Bay, whither Ugarng had 

 already gone. Accordingly, after due preparation, myself and 

 party were ready on the 10th of January, 1861, and away we 

 went. 



The following account of the first day's journey is from my 

 journal, as written every evening in an igloo — snow hut: 



" Thursday, January 10^,1861. Thermometer 30° below zero, 

 or 62° below freezing point ! My company consists of self, Ebier- 

 bing, Tookoolito, and Koodloo, the cousin of the deceased Nuker- 

 tou. By 4 A.M. I was up, and, with lantern in hand, went and 

 called Ebierbing and his wife. They arose, and at once proceed- 

 ed to gather up whatever things they would require during our 

 stay. I then returned to the ship and packed up my own mate- 

 rial. The outfit for this trip consisted, in provisions, of 1 \ lb. pre- 

 served boiled mutton in cans, 3 lbs. raw salt pork, 15 cakes (4 lbs.) 

 sea-bread, J lb. pepper, 2 lbs. ground burnt coffee, 1 quart molas- 

 ses, 1 quart corn-meal, and 3 lbs. Cincinnati cracklings for soup. 

 Then, for bedding, 1 double wool blanket, 1 sleeping-bag, 1 cloak 

 and 1 shawl for bed-covering. For clothing, besides my native 

 dress upon me, I took 1 extra under-shirt, 1 woolen shirt, 2 pairs 

 extra stockings, 1 pair extra pants, 2 towels, and 2 pairs mittens. 



