358 



ARCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



and not a ripple disturbed its glassy surface. This compelled us 

 to use the oars for some time after leaving this place, and what 

 with the many stoppages made for game by my Innuit compan- 

 ions, and a fog that afterward settled upon us, it was a tedious 

 passage to our second encampment, which was at Cape Cracroft,* 

 a point of land connected by a narrow neck with Blunt's Penin- 

 sula,! instead of at Niountelik, as we had expected. 



We passed the night as the previous one, and the next morn- 

 ing again proceeded direct for Oopungnewing Island. The same 

 kind of tantalizing but exciting chase after ducks delayed us con- 

 siderably, until when about two miles from Oopungnewing. Koo- 

 jesse was steering, when, suddenly taking up my spyglass, and 

 directing it to some islets near Oopungnewing, he cried out, "Hi- 

 noo ! Ninoo I" This was enough to make each of the boat's crew 

 spring into new life, for of all game that they delight in Ninoo is 

 the chief. They started ahead with fresh vigor, the women pull- 

 ing hard, but as noiselessly as they could, and the men loading 

 their guns ready for the attack. I relieved Koojesse at the steer- 

 ing-oar. 



When we first saw Ninoo we were about two miles distant from 

 it, and I could perceive this " lion of the North" lying down, ap^ 

 parently asleep ; but when within half a mile Ninoo saw us, raised 

 himself upon his haunches, looked around, then fixedly at us, and 

 off he started. Immediately the men began to make some most 

 hideous noises, which arrested Ninoo in his course, and caused 

 him to turn round. This was what we wanted, to gain time in 

 the chase which had now begun. But Ninoo was not so easily en- 

 trapped. His stay was only for a moment. Off he went again, 

 flying over the island, and quickly disappearing. Then, with a 

 strong pull, and a firm, steady one, the boat was sent swiftly along. 

 Presently a point of the islet where we had seen Ninoo was 

 rounded, and again we beheld him far ahead of us, swimming di- 

 rect for Oopungnewing. This encouraged the Innuits. They re- 

 newed their shouts without intermission. Every now and then 

 the object of our pursuit would wheel his huge form around, and 

 take a look at his pursuers ; and now the chase became very ex- 



* This cape, at the southeast side of the entrance to the Countess of Warwick's 

 Sound (of Frobisher), I name after Miss Cracroft, niece of Lady Franklin. It is in 

 lat. 62° 41' 30" N., long. 65° 07' W. 



t The land bounded by Bayard Taylor Pass, Field Bay, Chapell Inlet, and Fro- 

 bisher Bay, I have named after Edward and George W. Blunt, of New York City. 



