304 



AECTIC EE SEARCH EXEEDITION. 



thence back about a quarter of a mile to a bight flanked by high 

 mountains. 



While Koodloo and Ebierbing were here erecting a tent, I as- 

 cended one of these mountains, and thence discovered to the 

 southwest, between Lok's Land and Hudson's Island, a channel 

 that no white man (unless of Frobisher's expedition) ever saw be- 

 fore — a channel that probably no Innuit of any late generation 

 had ever visited. The next day, June 9th, we pursued our jour- 

 ney down through Dr. Kane's Channel,* which connects Frobish- 

 er Bay with Field Bay ; the extreme land, which I especially de- 

 sired to visit, lying from five to seven miles to the east of the low- 

 er or southern termination of said channel. The sledge went 

 swiftly, bounding from snow-wreath to snow-wreath, but I man- 

 aged to pencil down my notes as we rode along. 



Never did I see a more interesting sight than that now present- 

 ed. Wherever my eye turned, seals appeared in great numbers 

 on the ice by their holes ; and, as may be supposed from what I 

 have previously said of the Innuit character, it was quite hopeless 

 to expect that my companions, or the dogs, would attend to my 

 wishes in getting forward. No; a "seal-hunt" was inevitable; 

 and away we went, at the rate of ten miles an hour, bounding 

 like deer over the smooth ice, and were quickly among the ani- 

 mals, dealing death around. It was the work of but a few mo- 

 ments ; and the very notes from which I now write were record- 

 ed as I sat by a seal-hole, the water of which was crimsoned with 

 blood, some of which still marks the page before me. Around me 

 was a scene of death. Our captured seals were now so many 

 that my Innuit companions did not know what to do with them. 

 They appeared almost crazy with joy, at least so far as they are 

 capable of showing signs of extravagant delight in matters of this 

 kind. 



Ebierbing said that, ''although they had all dreaded this land, 

 it was a good land, and now he was not sorry he had come. 

 There was plenty land — plenty water — plenty seal — and nobody 

 there!" 



In addition to the numerous seals, we soon afterward came 

 across polar bear-tracks, and could see where Bruin had torn up 

 the sea-ice in his path. But just then we would not stop for any 

 thing except for Ninoo. It w&s "onward" with us now. The 



* Thus named in memory of Dr. Kane, the arctic explorer. This channel di- 

 vides Hudson's Island from Lok's Land. 



