378 



AKCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



and provisions were clearly abundant. In the tupic of Artark- 

 paru, Koojesse and Tunukderlien were at home feasting on raw 

 venison, and with them I was invited to partake of the old man'? 

 hospitality. Before returning to the boat I also received, as a 

 present, a pocket full of dried tuktoo meat, given me by Annawa. 



After a short stay and friendly adieu, we again departed on our 

 way ; but just then I thought it possible that old Artarkparu 

 might be able to give me some information. Accordingly I turn- 

 ed back, and, through the aid of Koojesse as interpreter, entered 

 into a conversation with him. We seated ourselves by his side, 

 and the first question I put to him was, Had he ever seen coal, 

 brick, or iron on any of the land near Oopungnewing ? He im- 

 mediately answered in the affirmative. He had seen coal and brick 

 a great many times on an island which he called Niountelik. 



He first saw them when he was a boy. 



He had also seen heavy pieces of iron on the point of Oopung- 

 newing, next to Niountelik. 



"No iron there now, somebody having carried it off." 

 "Bricks and coals were at Niountelik." 



I then asked him, "How many years ago was it when the In- 

 nuits first saw these things?" 



His reply was, " Am-a-su-ad-lo" (a great, great many). His fa- 

 ther, when a boy, had seen them there all the same. Had heard 

 his father often talk about them. 



" Some of the pieces of iron were very heavy, so that it was as 

 much as the strongest Innuit could do to lift them." 



" Had often made trials of strength, in competition with other 

 Innuits, in lifting. It was quite a practice with the young men 

 to see who was the strongest in lifting the 1 heavy stone 1 " (Innuits 

 so call the iron). 



" On the point of another island near by, an oo-mi-ark-chu-a 

 (ship) was once built by kodlunas (white men) a great many, 

 many years ago — so the Innuits of a great many years ago had 

 said." 



I took from the boat a little bag which contained some of the 

 coal that I had gathered up with my own hands at Niountelik, 

 and asked him if it was like that he had seen. 



He said, "All the same." 



I then asked him "where it came from." 



His reply was, " He supposed from England, for he had seen the 

 same kind on English whaling vessels in Northumberland Inlet." 



