SEARCH FOR RELICS. 



361 



its delicious meat — beef-like, bright red, and juicy. I made a hasty 

 meal, and, without farther delay, prepared to gratify my now cher- 

 ished and eager desire to penetrate the mysteries hanging over 

 the Frobisher expeditions. I now copy from my journal : 



"Sunday, August lift, 1861. * ********* 

 * # * -x- j goon ma( j e U p a company to go with me 

 to Niountelik. It consisted of the women of the crew, Koo-ou- 

 le-arng, Tu-nuk-der-lien, and Ak-chuk-er-zhun. Of course I was 

 boat-steerer. It was near six P.M., Eescue Harbor time, before 

 we got under way. As we rounded the northwest point of Oo- 

 pungnewing Island, a fresh breeze from the northeast met us. 

 Before making half a mile it increased to almost a moderate gale, 

 making progress difficult for us. By turning the boat off the 

 course I desired to pursue we were able to make better headway, 

 being under the lee of the island Niountelik. Before getting 

 across the channel between Oopungnewing and Niountelik, I be- 

 gan to think, as my crew was so small, I should be obliged to turn 

 back. Indeed, the wind began to blow so furiously that I had 

 thoughts that we might be blown out into the Bay of Frobisher, 

 which often has all the characteristics of an open sea ; but, being 

 shielded by the island, we coasted along the base of the bluffs on 

 the southern side of Niountelik till we arrived at a small bight 

 well protected from all wind. Into this I directed the boat, which 

 greatly relieved all of us from the dangers through which we had 

 just passed. This bight is partly surrounded with a high, steep 

 sand-bank, most of it, however, by bluff rocks. I did not consider 

 it safe to leave the boat without a party to care for it, as there was 

 a heavy sea from the south, therefore I requested Tunukderlien 

 and Akchukerzhun to remain by or in it till I and Koo-ou-le-arng 

 (whom I wished to accompany me as guide, as she had often vis- 

 ited the island in her young days) could make a search over the 

 place and return. Climbing the steep bank, though a feat not 

 easily accomplished, was soon performed. When up, we directed 

 our steps along a narrow, smooth, grassy, slightly inclined plain, 

 hemmed in by rough old rocks. Thence we turned to the left, 

 mounting the rocks leading to the highest part of the island. We 

 kept our eyes fixed on the ground over which we made our foot- 

 steps, anxiously searching for fragments of brick, which I thought 

 must somewhere be found on Niountelik. I had understood Koo- 

 ou-le-arng to say that she had seen brick on this island, there- 

 fore every few minutes I said to her, ' Nou-ti-ma brick V (where is 



