18 
it and the base of the ridge lay a plain of a delicate green, sprinkled with 
small ponds and lakes. To the south a low ridge could be seen and a 
range of hills, perhaps 15 to 20 miles distant, could be seen running along 
the eastern horizon. 
In the morning of August 25 the south shore was coasted, passing in 
and out among low islands, until finally the mouth of Amadjuak river was 
found. The entrance is completely screened by numerous small islands 
and reefs and complex points in the coast line. The channel is about 100 
yards wide and for some distance from the mouth parallels the lake shore. 
The river was ascended for some distance and camp made beside the ridge 
formerly mentioned. The river has cut two channels through the ridge, 
leaving a long gravel island between. Amadjuak river w T as explored for 
several miles to the south and found to be very fast with numerous rapids. 
A small stream, called by the Eskimo, Koukdala, discharges into the 
Amadjuak on the west about 2 miles from the lake. The natives say it 
has its rise in the region southwest of Pingualuik. 
The weather at this time was very unsettled. On August 27 the 
temperature was 34 degrees and there were repeated flurries of snow. 
The wind at times attained a velocity of about 60 miles an hour. Before 
night Pingualuik was covered with a thick mantle of snow and the following 
morning the whole region was white. This was the first snowfall of the 
season, though earlier in the month all the higher elevations were, one 
night, lightly covered. 
On the top of the ridge near camp were found old remains of stone 
igloos and meat-caches. The Eskimo assistants declared that these were 
built and occupied by the ancient Tunit — a legendary race of very thick- 
set, strong men who occupied Baffin island in the long ago. The found- 
ations of these dwellings are built of large boulders to a height of 2 feet 
or more. Parts of the walls had fallen in, but in one or two instances the 
doorways with their heavy, rock lintels were well preserved. The exact 
nature of the interior was indeterminable owing to the accumulated humus 
and mat of vegetation. The foundation rocks were black with lichens. 
Undoubtedly they are of great age. The morning of August 28 was raw 
and blustery and an inch of snow still covered the ground. With a good 
wind behind, the narrows were reached at noon, and the west coast followed 
north all afternoon. The west coast is very low and the water in many 
places is shallow. 
The northward journey was continued on August 29, camp being 
pitched in the evening on the site of a very old Eskimo settlement. The 
shore along this stretch of the coast is marked by a gravel ridge which 
averages about 12 feet in height. Numerous lagoons occur nearly, if not 
quite, severed from the lake. Many caribou, of both sexes but chiefly 
females accompanied by fawns, were seen on the tundra. On the whole 
wild life was scarce. 
Continuing northwest on August 20, Nikosiving island in the entrance 
to Koukjuak river was reached at noon. The river was descended about 
10 miles and camp made there. The river appears to average 2 to 3 feet 
in depth. The current is very rapid, but the surface is of smooth water. 
There is a low, muddy foreshore of varying width, behind which, in places, 
is a slight gravelly elevation; beyond is a swamp of oozy moss and innu- 
merable ponds. The river in some places is 2 miles wide; where narrowest 
it measures about half a mile. 
