CEOSSING FROBISHER BAY. 



529 



At 5 A.M. we left the place of sixteenth encampment, directing 

 our course to the westward, and in two hours arrived at the island 

 Noo-ook-too-ad-loo, which Sharkey and myself ascended. Here 

 we saw some partridges and many rabbit tracks. One of the for- 

 mer Sharkey shot. While on this island I took a round of an- 

 gles, sighting various important points necessary toward com- 

 pleting my chart of the bay. Thence we departed at 9 A.M., 

 striking nearly due west to cross the Bay of Frobisher. We 

 found the ice very rough, and consequently our progress was 

 slow. A few minutes before twelve, meridian, as we were about 

 to enter among the numerous islands that lie across the bay, be- 

 ginning at " Frobisher's Farthest," we stopped, when I proceed- 

 ed to make observations for latitude, solar bearings, etc. When 

 I found my position was such that various capes, promontories, 

 islands, and inlets that I had visited were in sight, and knowing 

 I could then better determine their relative geographical posi- 

 tion, I was delighted, and especially so when I had the President's 

 Seat dancing and circling round in the mirror of my sextant, 

 till it finally rested on the mountain heights of Frobisher's Far- 

 thest, on the exact spot where I had made astronomical obser- 

 vations on the 22d of August, 1861, the previous year. Thence 

 we proceeded among many islands, and came to a channel where 

 we found a space of open water abounding in ducks and oth- 

 er aquatic birds, and seals. Here the tide was rushing furious- 

 ly through like a mill-race, and this prevented us from securing 

 more than half of our game, for as the ducks and seals were shot 

 they were liable to be carried rapidly away beneath the ice. 

 Sharkey, however, shot and secured one seal which weighed 

 about three hundred pounds, and also killed several brace of 

 ducks. 



While the hunters were engaged at this work I took my in- 

 struments and went upon the hill of an island to have a look 

 around and to triangulate. When at the summit and quietly 

 taking a survey, I heard a deep tiger-like growl. I listened, and 

 glanced quickly in the direction whence it came. I saw nothing, 

 and soon raised my sextant to my eye, when another and another 

 growl assailed my ear. Again I looked around, but could see 

 nothing, though I concluded it must be either a polar bear or a 

 wolf. Therefore, considering my unarmed state, and the distance 

 I had climbed up the mount, away from all assistance, I thought 

 the better part of valor in such a case was to beat a hasty retreat. 



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