ANOTHER BOAT SCENE. 



417 



loo of three. For these seven skins they had been four days and 

 three nights out, ascending mountains, wading rivers, sleeping 

 out in snow-storms, their garments wet, with no spare ones to 

 put on, and exposed to every change and privation. These In- 

 nuits do indeed toil for their winter clothing. I asked Koojesse 

 how they managed in such stormy weather as we had experienced, 

 and with the nights so dark. He replied that when each had 

 killed one or two deer, they were all right. They stacked their 

 guns, or, if near rocks, selected a suitable spot for a temporary 

 tupic, made of the skins with the hair-side in. They then wrap- 

 ped themselves in a tuktoo skin, and so slept warm and soundly. 

 Helping them with their burdens as far as my weak state would 

 permit, I continued on my trip of observation and discovery, while 

 the two Innuits returned to the encampment, where, much to their 

 vexation, they learned from the woman that a bear had been seen 

 close by. My walk alone, of six miles or more, resulted in my 

 making the discovery of the two streams which flow into the Bay 

 of the Two Eivers. 



That night another severe snow-storm came on from the south- 

 east, and toward noon of the 11th the wind shifted to the north- 

 west. The weather then moderated, and I set out in the boat, 

 accompanied by Koojesse and Koodloo, for the purpose of visiting 

 the islands inclosing a kind of harbor, on the shores of which we 

 were encamped. The wind was blowing strong in our favor, and 

 we therefore made sail, intending to keep under canvas the whole 

 way. We had only one oar available, the rest having been used 

 as frames for the tupics. As we sailed along, how exhilarating 

 was the scene ! The boat seemed to fly, so buoyantly it sped on 

 its way. Koojesse steered, and well did he guide us between 

 rocks and sand-spits in our course. Bounding over the crested 

 waves, and lifting itself clear of every thing but spray, our frail 

 bark soon carried us to the point I wished to reach. It was on 

 the east side of the harbor, on Bishop's Island, that I landed with 

 Koojesse, while Koodloo remained in the boat to keep it from 

 grounding, as the tide was already on the turn, and going out 

 swiftly. 



Our steps were rapid as we went over the banks of snow, up 

 one hill, then across a valley, and thence up to the crest of anoth- 

 er hill — Mount Observation, as I called it — whence I could obtain 

 a good view. Here I took several observations, as fast as I well 

 could, noting them down at the time. The view from this point 



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