352 



ARCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



CHAPTER XXI. 



Departure on Boat-voyage to explore Frobisher Bay. — An Innuit Crew. — Author 

 the only White Man. — Arrives at Lupton Channel, and makes first Encampment. 

 — Next Day's Journey. — Innuit Mode of drowning Ducks. — Joyousness of the 

 Crew. — Passing through Bear Sound. — Visit the deserted Whaling Depot. — Sec- 

 ond Encampment on Sharko. —Third Day's Trip. — A Bear-hunt in the Water. — 

 Author's narrow Escape. — Land on Oopungnewing. — Musquitoes again. — Visit 

 Niountelik. — Explore the Island. — Important Discovery. — " Sea-coal !" — Proof 

 of Frobisher's Expedition having visited here. — Joy of the Author. — Corroborative 

 Testimony of Innuits from Tradition. — Carefully examine a Deposit of Coal. — 

 Return to Oopungnewing. — Great Feast on the Bear. — Innuit Customs. — Bear's 

 Bladder and Charms. — Polar Bear's Liver poisonous. 



"Friday, August 9th, 1861. I was up in good season, and got 

 every thing in readiness ; then started off in a boat a company of 



young Innuits — 'trundle-bed Innuits,' as Captain B called 



them — who slept aboard the George Henry last night, to call up 

 Koojesse, and Kooperneung, and their nulianas (wives). 



11 Breakfast was ready at the appointed moment, and the Innu- 

 its of my company ready for it. This dispatched, my bag and 

 baggage were placed snugly in the boat, along with the already 

 well-packed assortment such as Innuits have. As usual in start- 

 ing off, I compared chronometers. * * * * * 



" All in readiness and aboard, we start, purposing to stop at 

 "Whale Island for Koodloo, Koo-ou-le-arng (Suzhi), and my things, 

 as well as to bid my Innuit children, Ebierbing and Tookoolito, 

 good-by. All hands were on deck to witness our departure. 



Captain B 's smiling face, of course, was not wanting in the 



picture the scene presented. As the boat was pushed out into 

 fair water for a 1 white-ash breeze,' standing with steering-oar in 



my hand, I asked Captain B if — ' in the name of Cod and the 



Continental Congress' — I should take possession of the country I 

 was about to visit and explore, planting the American flag upon 

 it. 



t£ He answering affirmatively, I then bade him and all adieu, 

 expressing the hope that when I returned I should find ever}?- 

 cask of the George Henry overflowing with oil, and all her decks 

 filled high with bone. 



