Henry G, Bryant. 
21 
saxifrages smiled a welcome^ we disturbed a few eider ducks 
feeding along the shore and sent two Arctic hares scampering 
up the hillsides. These were the only living things observed, al- 
though the skeletons of an ice bear and seal and numerous 
whale vertebrae were found imbedded in the sand near the beach. 
We were at a loss to account for the presence of these bones 
until the interesting discovery was made that we had lit upon the 
site of an Eskimo settlement. The foundations of eight igloos 
were found and a search amid the soil disclosed part of a bone 
sledge runner and the fragment of a lance head of the same ma- 
terial. These remains had every appearance of great age. The 
Eskimo hunter whom we had brought with us from Ingle- 
field Gulf and who formed one of the landing party, vouchsafed 
no information regarding the former occupants of these moss- 
covered ruins. 
This sheltered bay, being one of the few localities in this region 
adapted to the wants of a native settlement, may have afforded 
a temporary resting place to those Eskimos who wandering north 
eventually reached Grinnell Land and north Greenland. On the 
other hand, if we accept the statements of Bessels and Dr. Franz 
Boas^ that a primitive tribe of Eskimos inhabit the southwestern 
part of Ellesmere Land, it would be reasonable to suppose that 
members of this tribe in times past had extended their travels 
along the north shore of Jones Sound, as far east as the camp 
site referred to. 
Directly after the return of the landing party we bore off to the 
southeast and in due time steamed out of the sound and passing 
6. Dr. Franz Boas— The Central Eskimo. (An. Bep. Bu. Eth., 1884-85, p. 
443.)— referring to the periodical journeys of one of the tribes of North 
Baffin Land, says: “The journeys of the Aggomuit are not at all confined tc 
Baffin Land. In favorable winters they cross Lancaster Sound, passing the 
small island Uglirn, and winter on the eastern half of Tudjan (North Dev- 
on). While here they keep up some intercourse with the inhabitants of Un- 
mingman Nuna (Ellesmere Land). * * * ♦ ♦ Having reached Unmingman 
Nuna, the Eskimo who gave me this information affirm that they fell in 
with a small tribe who resided on this shore. Here they lived for some 
time, as there was an abundance of seals during the whole year. Further 
northwest is a large fjord. ♦ ♦ # ♦ ♦ The Eskimos do not visit the land 
on the other side of this fjord, as bears are said to be very numerous and 
large there. Though these migrations to Jones Sound do not occur very fre- 
quently, they have by no means been discontinued.” 
