4 
precipitously from the sea. Talus slides are common and many start 
from more or less precipitous faces which terminate in jagged peaks, or 
narrow divides, with deep clefts and V-shaped valleys between. The 
rocks, as is the case all about Cumberland sound, are Precambrian, mainly 
granites and granite-gneisses. 
Snow remains permanently on the higher mountains flanking Pang- 
nirtung fiord, but does not develop true glaciers. Some snow fields occupy 
relatively considerable areas, but most of them are small. Near the upper 
end of Pangnirtung fiord, on the edge of a sea-facing precipice, is a sheer 
face of ice and snow fully 200 feet thick. The upper part is white; the 
lower is of old ice with a greenish tint. A number of the higher valleys 
must contain from 100 to 600 feet of ice and snow. A short distance 
inland from the head of the fiord, two glaciers extend down valleys of 
gentle gradient, to within 400 or 500 feet of the bottom of the main valley. 
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Hudson’s Bay Company’s 
buildings are on a gently undulating flat rising some 20 feet above high 
tide mark. This bottom land is about 1| miles long by § mile wide, and 
forms a cape. Few areas of this character and extent are found in Cum- 
berland Sound region. In summer the flat is soft and oozy under foot, 
and is covered with grasses, Arctic cotton, saxifrages, and various mosses. 
Immediately behind the flat, the abruptly rising, talus-free slope rises to 
2,150 feet. Mount Duval, a. short distance northeast, is 2,300 feet high. 
A long excursion on July 25, showed that the Arctic summer w T as far 
advanced, for most of the flowering plants were more or less profusely in 
bloom. The Arctic cotton-grass ( Eriophorum angustifolium ) was perhaps 
the most conspicuous. It thrives in wet situations in broad, isolated 
patches, and reaches a height of a foot or more. Saxifrages of many 
species bloomed among the boulders along the streams and on the sides 
of the mountains. The Arctic poppy ( Papaver nudicaule ) had just passed 
full bloom. Along Duval river in the warm, sheltered flats under the 
banks, the fireflower ( Epilohium latifolium ) was in flower and was attract- 
ing numerous small butterflies and bumblebees. 
On July 28, travelling in the Hudson’s Bay Company’s power launch 
Ungava, a brief visit was made to Kekerton islands, 40 miles distant. 
Winds of considerable violence rise suddenly in this region and, therefore, 
travel in any small craft is exceedingly venturesome. The islands are on 
the eastern side of the sound immediately south of Kingnait fiord. A long 
tramp over the desolate hills disclosed little of interest, except a few species 
of dwarf plants not previously collected. A light-coloured variety of the 
fireflower was found near the old whaling station; this variety was not 
observed again until two years later at Amadjuak bay. 
The islands have an irregular surface and are indented by innumerable 
bays, miniature inlets, and fiords. The altitude varies from a few feet to 
500 feet. The islands are rugged, and almost destitute of vegetation. 
The higher parts are barren expanses and domes of rock. In places the 
lower slopes and foreshore support a meagre growth of mosses, lichens, 
dwarfed grasses, and various other plants. In a few places along the coast 
small, isolated areas of fairly good growth occur. Vegetation is invariably 
more luxuriant near, or on the sites of, Eskimo villages of long standing 
where offal, refuse, and the excrement of numerous dogs, add to the 
fertility of the soil. As a result, growth is more rapid and virile, and plant 
life attains to goodly proportions before the early frosts and snow end 
