354 



ARCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



cended. At 6 44 P.M. we reached the entrance of Lupton Chan- 

 nel, and found a strong tide running into Field Bay, whirling, 

 foaming, roaring, and boiling like a caldron. As we labored on, 

 at our right were the iron cliffs of Bache's Peninsula,* and con- 

 spicuous among them was a bold rock terminating like a chim- 

 ney-top. On the left lay Lok's Land, the " much-dreaded land" 

 of the Innuits ; and looking forward down the channel, we saw 

 the bold front of Ellis Island. By dint of hard pulling we at 

 last got through the channel, but I had to give up all idea of 

 reaching Cape True that night, as had been my intention and 

 hope. We therefore stopped at 8 P.M. in a small cove on the 

 southeast side of Bache's Peninsula, and opposite to Ellis Island, 

 and there made our first encampment, f Ducks were abundant, 

 and the Innuits shot several. We found wood plentiful, from the 

 wreck of the Traveller. We were closely packed this first night 

 out in our large tupic, after a glorious supper of seal, ducks, and 

 coffee. 



Here we found relics of former Innuit encampments, circles of 

 stones, bones of seal, walrus, etc. We saw a white whale making 

 its way up the channel. 



Next morning, Saturday, August 10th, 1861, at 8 A.M., we pro- 

 ceeded on our voj^age. In passing down through Bear Sound, 

 soon after leaving, I witnessed a novel proceeding on the part 

 of my companions. It consisted in drowning some of the ducks 

 that played about us in large numbers. This cruel method of 

 obtaining game was used to save shot and powder, and the man- 

 ner of accomplishing it is as follows : 



A flock of ducks was seen swimming some distance ahead of 

 us. As we approached, most of them flapped their wings and 

 flew away, but the rest dived below the surface of the water. 

 One of them was selected for the subject of Innuit amusement, 

 thus : whenever it popped its head out of water, the natives made 

 a great noise, accompanied with every conceivable motion, throw- 

 ing about their hands and arms to frighten the bird down again. 

 On its reappearance, wherever it showed itself, the boat was steer- 

 ed by Koojesse toward it. Then the same noise and frantic ges- 

 tures were repeated, and continued without intermission, so as to 



* I have named this peninsula after A. D. Bache, Superintendent of the United 

 States Coast Survey. It is bounded by Field Bay, Lupton Channel, Bear Sound, 

 and Chapell Inlet. 



f First encampment in lat. 62° 33' N., long. 64° 43' W. 



