432 



AKCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



found it. By measurement, the cave was fifty feet long, by a width 

 of ten feet, and a height of fifteen to twenty feet at the entrance. 

 The strata of rocks were perpendicular. The sides, however, were 

 not as rough and jagged as were the roof and base. Icicles, long, 

 numerous, and large, hung from the top, giving an air of enchant- 

 ment to the scene. 



Eeturning to the boat, we resumed our hard labor at the oars, 

 the wind being right ahead. We had not proceeded far before 

 Koojesse sighted a seal floating a little distance off on our right. 

 He instantly prepared for a shot, and stood up in the bow of the 

 boat ready to fire. In another moment, and within twenty -five 

 feet of the seal, crack went the rifle. A floundering commenced, 

 the boat was in an instant alongside of the prey, and Koojesse 

 laid hold of his prize with both hands, the other Innuits imme- 

 diately aiding him. I shall not soon forget that scene. A line 

 was thrown around the seal's flippers, but the animal was still 

 alive, and struggled so much that all the power we had could 

 hardly get it into the boat. As it was drawn up, the dying seal 

 glanced around and upon us with its plaintive eyes, and its inno- 

 cent-looking face seemed to plead for mercy, as though it were 

 human. I actually felt a shudder creeping over me as it looked 

 at us ; but, on the instant, a knife in the hands of Kooperneung 

 was buried deep in it. Another struggle, and the poor seal lay 

 dead. Koojesse told me that occasionally, on a windy day, seals 

 will thus float upon the surface of the water for the sake of hav- 

 ing the wind blow on their backs. 



A little later we landed at Ek-ke-le-zhun, a point of interest 

 and importance to me. This place is a tongue of land which juts 

 out nearly half across the bay, and serves to form above it one of 

 the safest and finest harbors I ever saw. The scenery around is 

 grand and impressive, and I saw enough to convince me that it is 

 a most desirable spot for a vessel to anchor in. 



While the Innuits were feasting on the seal I took a walk upon 

 the shore. All the land above high-water mark was covered with 

 snow ; but, looking attentively on the ground, to my delight I dis- 

 covered a small, thin lamina of coal. On the day we left Oopung- 

 newing (August 13th), on our voyage up Frobisher Bay, Koojesse 

 told me that he knew of a place not far off, up a bay, where there 

 was a great deal more of the coal such as I had found at Nioun- 

 telik. My experience, now narrated, shows both that Koojesse 

 was honest in his statement, and also — which is a point of great 



