454 



ARCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



vessel is anchored, and which forms the north and northwest side 

 of the harbor, I was surprised to find much ice. Indeed, early this 

 morning there was no ice in the harbor, but at the time we left it 

 had formed so thick that it was with great difficulty that the boat 

 could be pulled through it. Finding the ice too heavy to make 

 progress, and apparently much thicker ahead of us, we concluded 

 to turn our course and strike southwest, using the wind, which 

 was favorable to the latter course. Sail being made, away we 

 sped at a capital rate, occasionally plowing through * sludge,'* 

 that served greatly to deaden our speed. 



" At about eleven o'clock we reached the land where the winter 

 passage is made in going to Frobisher Bay. A few minutes were 

 spent here in deciding which of the party should accompany me 

 in my tramp to the mountain-top. All but one seemed reluctant 

 to undertake it ; the one I shall always remember, as he seemed 

 rather anxious than otherwise to be my attendant ; it was Shevi- 

 koo, an Innuit that I like more the more I see of him. The rest 

 of the crew were to remain with the boat, taking it, if they chose, 

 to hunt duck and seal. 



Shevikoo and I started. The first quarter of a mile was over 

 a plain of fresh -water ice that had been formed by springs bub- 

 bling up and spreading their waters about. This passed, we com- 

 menced our ascent of the rugged hill that lay between us and the 

 mountain proper that I desired to visit. A few minutes' walk up 

 this incline decided what kind of work we had before us for the 

 next two or three hours. I started from the boat with my tuk- 

 too jacket and trowsers on. Climbing rough rocks covered with 

 soft, treacherous snow created a boiling heat ; I therefore divested 

 myself of the said clothing, reserving only my civilization dress. 



" Kesuming our walk — or rather our leaping, plunging, and 

 tumbling, for this was the nature of our motions during the five 

 hours we were absent from the boat — our progress up was slow — 

 slow indeed, for the way was really rugged, though not so in ap- 

 pearance. Had there been no snow we could have got along very 

 well, but as it was, the traveling was terrible. This may be be- 

 lieved when I state that nearly the whole distance is covered with 

 sharp and boulder rocks — rocks upon rocks — and over these a 

 covering of snow that made all look fair, but, on attempting to 



* Just as the ice begins to make, sometimes the sea- water, to a considerable depth, 

 becomes so cold that it is thick like porridge — so thick, indeed, that a boat might as 

 well be pulled through a lake of tar as through " sludge." 



