360 



ARCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



feet. Mnoo's white coat was crimsoned with blood about his 

 head, and he was getting desperate. His movements were errat- 

 ic, but we finally drove him again in the direction of Oopungne- 

 wing, our policy being to make him tow his own carcass as near 

 the land as would be safe to prevent his escape, and then to end 

 his life. This was accomplished when within about one eighth 

 of a mile from the island. The last shot was fired, and Ninoo in- 

 stantly dropped his head without making another motion. 



We now pulled to him: He was quite dead, and we at once 

 took him in tow by fastening a walrus thong around his lower 

 jaw, its huge tusks effectually serving to keep the noose from 

 slipping off. Thus we towed our prize along, until, reaching the 

 land, we hauled him on shore, and made our third encampment 

 upon the southwest side of Oopungnewing Island.* 



During this chase I had a narrow escape from losing my life. 

 Koojesse was seated on the locker at the boat's stern, with gun 

 cocked and leveled at Ninoo, when, just as he was about to pull 

 the trigger, I, intent upon the bear, suddenly rose, right in a line 

 with his aim. It was but a second of time that saved me. Koo- 

 jesse had just time to drop his gun, as frightened as man could 

 be at the danger in which I had unknowingly placed myself. 



While we were firing at the bear, Tunukderlien and another 

 of the women, for some reason unknown to me at the time, lay 

 down in the boat completely covered with tuktoo skins. 



As soon as we landed I went to the top of the island to make 

 observations and look around, but the vast swarms of musquitoes 

 attacked me with such violence that I was almost desperate. Aft- 

 er catching a few sights for time (longitude) and a solar bearing, 

 and taking a round of angles, I beat a hasty retreat. So torment- 

 ed was I that I thought I had lost as much blood during the time 

 I was up there as the Nmoo we killed. 



Musquitoes are fond of white men's blood. They can smell it 

 a long way off, I am sure, for they came in swarms from every di- 

 rection, and made me the centre-point of their bill presentations. 

 When I got back to the encampment I must have looked very 

 hideous, for my hands and face were blotched all over. 



I found the Innuits had skinned Ninoo, and were feasting on 



* Oo-pung-ne-wing is near the west side of Countess of Warwick's Sound, and is 

 one mile and a half long and one mile wide. It is like all the land of that country 

 — rugged rocks and mountainous. This island is in lat. 62° 46' 30" N., long. 65° 

 17' W. 



