404 



ARCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



"I find this side still more interesting than the other. Here, 

 at the west extreme, are far more extensive plains of grassy land 

 than elsewhere. Koojesse has this moment passed to my hands 

 what I think will prove to be rare geological specimens — fossils." 10 



But let me give the day's occurrences in a methodical form ; 

 for I wrote the above, and much more, in my diary while sitting 

 on the rocks that are at the head of Frobisher Bay, after several 

 hours' severe labor. 



The morning commenced thick and foggy, with occasional 

 glimpses of finer weather. I ascended to the plain in the rear of 

 the fourteenth encampment, at the top of the sand and shingle 

 bank, and saw much vegetation, with numerous signs of reindeer 

 in the neighborhood. Then I examined wherever I could ; but 

 my view was very limited, as numerous islands bounded the vi- 

 sion toward the bay. At low water frequent shoals are exposed, 

 and even to navigate our boats thus far we had been obliged to 

 wait for the tide at half flood. 



When I desired to get under way, I found that Koojesse, with- 

 out saying one word to me about it, had gone out on the mount- 

 ains tuktoo hunting. Kooperneung had also taken Miner's kia, 

 and had set out in advance after seals. Thus was I perpetually 

 annoyed by the freaks and vagaries of this free and independent 

 people. At last, however, at 1 P.M., we left our encampment and 

 proceeded up the west side of the bay, toward its extreme head, 

 called by the Innuits Aggoun. 



I had a boat's crew of women ; for Koodloo, who had frequent- 

 ly proved himself a lazy dog, sat in the bow with his oar peaked, 

 leisurely reclining on his thwart. Having gone for some time 

 in a northwesterly direction, I turned the boat toward the shore 

 (Kingaite side), intending to land and visit a remarkable ridge of 

 what seemed to be sand, stretching a mile or so along the coast. 

 Before getting near the shore, though, I could see that the water 

 was becoming very shallow, the bottom being of fine sand, and 

 the boat soon grounded. As I could not make a landing, I 

 concluded to push on, for I felt sure that we were very near the 

 termination of Frobisher Bay. I reckoned without my host, how- 

 ever, in thinking to get on without trouble. The Innuits of my 

 boat looked back to the craft of " Miner," and declared that the 

 latter was making an encampment about a mile behind. I found 

 the crew bent on going thither, but I was determined this should 

 not be. I asked Suzhi, "Noutima Aggoun V — where is Aggoun ? 



