440 



ARCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



I made some inquiries about it, but not one of my companions 

 could give me any information, though only about a mile distant. 

 They never had been there, and, as they said, " never would." 



On the morning of Friday, September 27th, I mentally arranged 

 a plan for getting from my Innuits all the flint-stone relics they 

 had pocketed when making my researches in the coal deposits 

 found at Niountelik and up Victoria Bay. I began my opera- 

 tions by feasting all my crew. I got Koojesse to make an abun- 

 dant soup of pemmican and meat-biscuit for them all. After 

 they had eaten this I gave to each a dish of hot coffee and hands 

 full of sea-biscuit. I was particularly conversational and cheerful 

 with all; carried hot coffee and bread to "Miner" and his wife, 

 and gave bread also to such others of his company as I knew to 

 possess the relics I sought. Then I told Koojesse that, if he had 

 any of the " flint-stones," I would give him some boxes of percus- 

 sion caps when I got to the vessel if he would give them all to 

 me. I told him, moreover, that I wanted him to assist me in in- 

 ducing all the others to do the same, promising on my part to 

 give Kooperneung and Koodloo the same reward I offered him, 

 and to give to the nulianas of himself and Kooperneung, and to 

 Suzhi, beads for all they had. My strategy worked like a charm ; 

 the relics came in by scores, each bringing me a quantity that 

 surprised me, for I had not thought my company so largely de- 

 ceitful. When I had obtained from my immediate crew all they 

 held, I took Koojesse with me to " Miner's" company, and made 

 an important addition to my stock there. The Innuits had se- 

 creted these flint-stones for their own use in "striking fire." 



We soon after started on our way, and made good progress up 

 Field Bay, arriving near Parker's Bay toward evening. There 

 we heard the report of fire-arms from the shore, and saw tupics 

 near the beach. My party immediately responded, and desired 

 that we should land ; but as we were now only about seven miles 

 from the Jjteot where I expected to find the ship, I refused permis- 

 sion. t9S usual opposition and sulky demeanor then followed. 

 The men would not work, and the women, though willing, had to 

 do as their masters told them. Night was approaching, and the 

 cold was becoming severe ; still, I felt it would be much better 

 to go on and ascertain if the ship were really there than to en- 

 camp for another night. Accordingly, I tried every argument 

 and persuasion to induce Koojesse and the others to persevere, 

 finally succeeding after much sulkiness on their part. 



