MAN-TRAPS.— STARTLING NEWS. 



293 



out, however, and I was engaged taking observations, I heard a 

 cry, "Mr. Hall !" I looked around, and saw Ebierbing, at a little 

 distance off, crawling out of a hole in the ice into which he had 

 fallen. I hastened to his assistance, but before my arrival he was 

 out, and fortunately without any injury. 



As I have before mentioned, it is risky traveling on the sea-ice 

 at this season of the year, on account of pools of water just be- 

 neath a covering of snow. A traveler passing along over an ap- 

 parently excellent route often finds himself unexpectedly floun- 

 dering in water, and the cause of this danger may be explained 

 in the following manner: 



I examined several of these " man-traps" — as they really prove 

 to be — and found large leaves of seaweed within these holes in 

 the ice. Any extraneous matter, such as this seaweed, stones, 

 ashes, etc., put on the surface of the ice, absorbs the solar heat, 

 and soon sinks down into the ice, forming a water-hole not only 

 the size of the object itself, but encircling quite a space around. 

 A driving storm may afterward cover the surface with snow, and 

 thus make a perfect man-trap. 



Soon after our return on board there was an arrival from Cape 

 True, where the George Henry's officers and men were staying to 

 prosecute whaling. I learned that they were all doing well in 

 the way of fresh food, ducks, walrus, etc., being abundant. 



On the second day of June a party of Sekoselar Innuits, six in 

 number, came to the ship, and we soon became very friendly to- 

 gether. At first these natives said nothing very particular far- 

 ther than that they had visited the Hudson Bay Company's 

 ships while passing up and down ; nor should I have obtained 

 any other news had it not been elicited almost by accident. In 

 fact, unless there be some motive to engage them in conversation 

 with strangers, the Esquimaux are seldom communicative. It is 

 as if the knowledge which they possess ought not to be given 

 away unless for some especial reasons. The Innuits, as a race, 

 are naturally reticent. They are often distant and reserved, and 

 only by kindness, tact, and gradually leading up to a subject can 

 any information be obtained from them. Thus it was not until 



the following day, when a letter arrived from Captain B , that 



I learned of these Esquimaux being acquainted with some facts 

 concerning white people dying at Sekoselar. The captain had heard 

 it so reported by other natives, and wrote to me that I might 

 make some inquiries about it. 



