8 
Following this, a couple of weeks elapsed during which travelling was 
impossible. Ice formed daily in the fiord in large quantities and drifted 
about in extensive fields. Near the sea a few gulls, eider ducks, and 
guillemots were occasionally observed. 
On November 12 the Eskimo first ventured on the new ice to go 
sealing and on November 20 the first sledges were used. The ice was now 
4 to 6 inches thick, w T ith many open leads and extensive areas of elastic-ice 
about an inch thick. By November 24 the ice had increased in many 
places to 8 inches and afforded safe sledging up and down the fiord for 
many miles. The gulf was still open beyond cape Nasauyak. 
In late November the temperature registered around zero and occasion- 
ally 12 to 15 degrees above; on the first of December it fluctuated from 
zero to 16 below. 
Commencing on December 3, a three-day trip was made up the valley 
of Koukdlik river. The distance travelled inland was approximately 40 
miles; the route throughout was a deep valley flanked by mountains 
ranging from 1,000 to 3,500 or 4,000 feet altitude. Eight miles from the 
coast, the river flows from a small lake at an altitude of 825 feet. This is 
connected by a rapid stream to a similar lake about 5 miles above and at 
an altitude of 1,050 feet; the second lake is followed by another lake of 
small size a mile or so away, and at an altitude of 1,100 feet. There is a 
low saddle here, which constitutes the height of land at 1,250 feet, and 
beyond it, in a distance of 12 or 15 miles, are two more lakes with altitudes, 
respectively, of 1,050 and 850 feet. They drain by rapid streams in the 
opposite direction. Numerous trails of caribou, wolf, fox, and hare were 
observed. 
Between December 11 and 19, the temperature was surprisingly 
uniform, ranging each night between 20 and 23 degrees below zero, and 
usually rising a couple of degrees during mid-day. By December 20 the 
upper part of the sound was apparently frozen solidly from coast to coast. 
During the last week of December, the weather was almost conti- 
nuously calm and clear, with temperatures ranging between 30 and 40 
degrees below zero. Cumberland sound was covered w T ith thick ice, the 
snow on the land was deep and firm enough to permit building igloos. 
On December 27 a sled-load of dog food was sent to Sirmilling bay as 
it was reported that seals w T ere scarce in that district. 
On January 6 in company with one Eskimo and a team of fourteen 
dogs hauling about 1,000 pounds, a start was made on the proposed trip 
across Baffin island to Foxe basin , by way of Issortukdjuak fiord. American 
harbour was reached the first day, Nunatuk the following night, and 
Sirmilling bay at noon of the succeeding day, a distance all told of about 
80 miles. Sledging conditions were excellent, except for a restricted area 
of lightly raftered ice between American harbour and the “Sarbuk”, 
southeast of Nunatuk. The temperature was around 50 degrees below 
zero, but the air was calm. The sledge route is much longer to Kingua 
than the corresponding boat journey in summer, for the large tide-rifts 
in this region enforce a wide detour to eastward. 
The dogs were rested for a day and the journey resumed on January 
10. It had been planned to add, at Sirmilling bay, another Eskimo and 
a second dog team to the party, but it being reported that, owing to lack 
of wind, the snow remained soft and deep, making travel impossible, the 
Eskimo refused to join the expedition. The temperature was minus 40 
