318 



AKCTIC KESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



20th sealing, and returned the following day, having secured eight 

 seals, weighing in all about 1400 pounds. This would have sup- 

 plied them with food for a long time, had they provident habits. 



At this time news came by Koojesse from the whaling depot 

 at Cape True, in Frobisher Bay. All the officers, and crew sta- 

 tioned there were well, though still unsuccessful. 



As Koojesse was to return as soon as possible, I determined to 

 go with him, and accordingly we set out on the following even- 

 ing, June 21st. 



At 7 P.M. we left the ship, with sledge and a team of eight 

 dogs, including my faithful Barbekark. Our load was light, and 

 we went along over the uncertain ice at three miles an hour. We 

 had a thick fog all the way in crossing Field Bay, and Koojesse, 

 though a capital guide, was evidently taking a wrong course after 

 leaving Eescue Harbor, until I showed him by my compass how 

 we ought to go. By that means we got into the old sledge-tracks, 

 marking the course to and fro, and were even with French Head* 

 in two and a half hours from the ship. 



On the passage I noticed another singular and striking method 

 which the natives use to capture seals. I will relate the incident 

 as recorded in my journal of Saturday, the 22d of June : 



" We saw many seals out on the ice, but did not succeed in 

 killing any, though Koojesse made several attempts. * * * ** 

 At 7 43 P.M., Eescue Harbor time, the dog Merok (brother dog 

 of the notable Barbekark), a good sealer, saw a seal which he had 

 scented some moments previous. Away he darted as fast as his 

 now inspirited companion-dogs would allow him. Koojesse at 

 once saw what was up, and set up a peculiar continued loud cry, 

 in which I joined. The flying dogs, with kummitie, and our 

 noise, so alarmed poor seal that it knew not what to do. The 

 seal had his head over his hole, yet high raised, looking at the 

 motley sight, and listening to the pandemonian sounds, which 

 frightened it near unto death. On we went ; but when the dogs 

 were within a few paces only, the seal regained his senses, and 

 down he went just in time to save his — blubber ! Koojesse says 

 that young seals are often captured by such procedure as this, but 

 seldom old ones." 



On arriving near the base of French Head, a little the other 



* "French Head" is a prominent headland, south side of Field Bay, and so named 

 to commemorate the death of the Frenchman, which occurred near its base, as re- 

 lated in Chapter XIII. French Head is in lat. 62° 44' 30" N., long. 64° 45' W. 



