388 



ARCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



pound chronometer, and also a pocket sextant. In my hand I 

 carried a compass tripod and azimuth compass. Charley had his 

 double-barreled gun, ready for rabbits or any other game. 



After getting to the summit the view was very extensive. To 

 the N.W. the appearance was as if the bay continued on between 

 two headlands, one the termination of the ridge of mountains 

 on the Kingaite, or Meta Incognita side, and the other the term- 

 ination of the ridge running on the north side of Frobisher Bay. 

 The coast of Kingaite was in full view, from the " Great Gate- 

 way"* down to the "President's Seat,"f a distance of one hund- 

 red nautical miles. A line of islands — their number legion — 

 shoot down from " Frobisher's Farthest" to the Kingaite coast. 



At noon and afterward the weather was exceedingly beautiful, 

 and the water as smooth as a mirror. Kingaite side was showing 

 itself in varying tints of blue, its even mountain range covered 

 with snow, throwing a distinct shadow across the surface of the 

 bay. The sun was warm, and yet casting a subd tied light on all 

 around. The rocks and mountains upon our right were bare, and 

 of a red hue, while far to the southeast were the eternal snows of 

 the Grinnell glacier. 



We encamped,;): as before, among the friendly Innuits who had 

 accompanied us, and on the next morning (August 23d), at an 

 early hour, I went by myself for a walk among the hills. Mount- 

 ains near the coast on that side of the bay had disappeared, the 

 land being comparatively low and covered with verdure. I was 

 delighted to find this such a beautiful country ; the waters of the 

 bay were teeming with animal life, and I thought that here was 

 indeed the place to found a colony, if any one should ever renew 

 the attempt in which Frobisher failed. 



Before I came back from my walk I perceived the camp-fires 

 sending up their clouds of smoke, and I was soon after partak- 

 ing of a hearty breakfast, cooked and served in Innuit fashion. 

 Abundance was now the rule. Seals and blubber were so plenti- 

 ful that quantities were left behind at our encampment. Even 

 whole seals, with the exception of the skins, were frequently 



* The opening between the two headlands alluded to above, which are about ten 

 miles to the northwest of the head of the Bay of Frobisher, I named the " Great 

 Gateway." 



f The most conspicuous mountain on the coast of Frobisher Bay I named Presi- 

 dent's Seat, after the chief executive officer of the United States government. Pres- 

 ident's Seat is in lat. 62° 39' N., long. 66° 40' W. 



% Our eleventh encampment was in lat. 63° 38' N., long. 68° 10' W. 



