308 



ARCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



dispelled. It was almost cruel, if I may venture to use such a 

 term, to awake me from my late dream of expected joy to the re- 

 ality of so great a disappointment. However, so it was ; and if 

 any thing would have relieved my own vexation, it was the blank 

 look of astonishment depicted on the features of my two compan- 

 ions on ascertaining the truth. Strange to say, by the time we 

 had arrived at the spot where the best view of it could be obtain- 

 ed, it looked no more like a vessel than a cow ! One glance, and 

 we turned away — I in disgust. 



Our journey back was any thing but agreeable ; but we took it 

 leisurely, and at half past 1 A.M. of the 11th arrived at our en- 

 campment. 



In speaking to Ebierbing about the reasons for the Innuits de- 

 serting a place which we now had evidence to show was abound- 

 ing with animal life, he told me that the dread of it could not be 

 removed. It had left upon the minds of all Innuits an impression 

 of horror which descended from parent to child, and was likely 

 to last for a long time. Even he himself would not have come 

 now but for much persuasion and the influence of the civilized 

 white man over the dark races, besides his strong personal attach- 

 ment to me. As for Koodloo, he had been induced by the ex- 

 ample and persuasions of Ebierbing more than by any favorable 

 feelings on his own part. After he had arrived here, it was plain 

 to me he regretted it ; and possibly, in his inner soul, " the myste- 

 rious ship" may have added to his superstitious feelings concern- 

 ing the place. 



While returning from this trip across Hall's Island, Ebierbing 

 related to me the following anecdote, prefacing it by the simple 

 remark that the breaking away of sea-ice and carrying off one or 

 more Innuits is not a rare occurrence. Once two of his people 

 were driven out of Cornelius Grinnell Bay while on the ice seal- 

 ing. The ice finally brought up against Lady Franklin's Island,* 

 twenty-five miles from the main land, upon which island the for- 

 lorn Innuits landed. Here they lived for several months on 

 ducks, walrus, bears, and seals, which they found there in abun- 

 dance. They did not make their appearance for months, and 

 were given up as lost. But, to the surprise of every one, they 

 ultimately returned, having effected their escape by means of 

 "floats" made of the skins of seals which they had killed. I 



* Named by me in honor of Lady Franklin. Lady Franklin Island is in lat. 62° 

 55' 30" N., long. 63° 30' W. 



