498 



ARCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



rolled down her hood, and there, nestled at her back, was the. 

 sweetly -sleeping Tuk-e-lik-e-ta. Taking Tookoolito by the hand, 

 I thanked her for all her kindness to me, and assured her that 



Captain B would attend to her and Ebierbing's wants while 



I was absent, seeing that they did not suffer for lack of food. I 

 then sent her back with two of the crew who had accompanied 

 us thus far, but were now returning. 



The descent of the Pass was for a portion of the way danger- 

 ous, and at all times exciting; the passage was down three de- 

 clivities, one of which was at an angle of 45°. To guard against 

 accident, the Innuits placed straps made of walrus hide over the 

 forward part of each runner, allowing the same to sweep back un- 

 der the runners; this acted as a drag by digging deep into the 

 snow. To the stern of the sledge was fastened a line twenty fath- 

 oms long, to which Lamb, Morgan, and myself clung for the pur- 

 pose of holding back. The dog-driver was directly in front of 

 his team, whipping them back, so that they might not give to the 

 sledge any swifter motion than it would have from its own impe- 

 tus. Thus the descent was safely accomplished. 



We arrived at Oopungnewing at 4 P.M., having been on the 

 way but nine hours, and were kindly welcomed by the Innuits, 

 large and small, as we drove up to their igloos on the southeast 

 end of the island. Several of the ship's crew were also there, liv- 

 ing with them, and apparently enjoying perfect health. 



Soon after our arrival I proceeded to the igloo of Artarkparu, 

 to learn the precise spot where he had last seen the " anvil." An- 

 nawa was with the old man ; and from the conversation that fol- 

 lowed, I soon found that Ar-lood-loong, the wife of Artarkparu, who 

 was seated at her usual place before the ikkumer, was better ac- 

 quainted with the particulars than any other one of the party. I 

 immediately promised her beads and tobacco if she would accom- 

 pany me to the spot where the relic could be found. With alac- 

 rity she drew on her Tcodlins, and bounded out like a deer, pro- 

 ceeding over the rocks westward, while I exchanged a few more 

 words with the two old men. They informed me that when this 

 " anvil" was last seen it was within ten fathoms of where we then 

 were, but that it had been tumbled off the rocks into the sea. At 

 very low water it could be seen ; and they told me that the ice 

 would go away from the place before the ship sailed, and that 

 they would help me get it then. 



I then joined Arloodloong, who had waited for me upon the 



