364 



ARCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



that what I saw were simply stones scattered about and covered 

 with black moss. I continued my course, keeping as near the 

 coast as possible. I was now nearing the spot where I had first 

 descried the black object. It again met my view ; and my orig- 

 inal thought on first seeing it resumed at once the ascendency in 

 my mind. I hastened to the spot. ' Grreat Grod ! Thou hast re- 

 warded me in my search!' was the sentiment that came over- 

 whelmingly into my thankful soul. On casting my eyes all 

 around, seeing and feeling the character (' moss-aged,' for some 

 of the pieces I saw had pellicles of black moss on them) of the 

 relics before and under me, I felt as — I can not tell what my feel- 

 ings were. What I saw before me was sea-coal of Frobisher's ex- 

 pedition of 1578, left here near three centuries ago ! 



" Koo-ou-le-arng, seeing that I had discovered something that 

 made me joyous (even unto dancing), came running with all her 

 might. Though she and other Innuits have known all about 

 this coal being here (as I find by what she and Koojesse inform 

 me to-night), yet not a word* had ever been communicated to me 

 about it. I had, by perseverance, gained information during the 

 year of brick and heavy stones (the latter, of course, I thought to 

 mean iron), but nothing of coals.* As soon as Koo-ou-le-arng 

 came up, I held out my hand to her, which was full of coal, ask- 

 * ing ' Kis-su V (What is this ?) She answered, ' Innuit kook-um? 

 By this I took it that the Innuits have sometimes used it in cook- 

 ing. Said I, £ Innuit ikkumer e-a-u V (Did the Innuits ever use this 

 for a fire to cook with?) 'Armelarng 1 (Yes) was the instant re- 

 sponse. I then asked, ' Noutima V meaning, Where did these 

 coals come from? Koo-ou-le-arng's response was, L Kodlunarn oo- 

 miarkchua kiete amasuadlo echar' (A great many years ago, white 

 men with big ship came here). This answer made me still more 

 joyous. From what I find on my return to Oopungnewing, Koo- 

 ou-le-arng has communicated to her Innuit friends some of my 

 conduct while on that coal-pile. She said that I acted just like 

 an angeko, and that I had done one thing an Innuit could not do 

 — that I had danced, and laughed, and made a complete somerset 

 on the coal ! 



"And why did I feel so happy? Because of the discovery I 

 have made to-day of what is a confirmation of the testimony — 



* When I wrote the original, of which the above is a verbatim copy, I had forgot- 

 ten the mention of coal in the communication made to me by old Ookijoxy Ninoo, 

 recorded on the 11th of the previous May. See page 280. 



