the exercises, enthusiastically making their responses to Jennie's ejaculations. The effect upon the suffering patient, Ebierbing, was, as before, quite beneficial.

On Sunday, the 4th of August, while in the tupic, I learned something that surprised me. On the previous day myself and some Innuits had gone ducking and sealing without any success. Now I was told that our ill luck was on account of our working during Ebierbing's sickness, as all of the natives, including intelligent Tookoolito, sincerely believe. They consider that it is wrong to work when one of their number is sick, and especially to work on skins that are intended to keep out water; for instance, it is wrong to work making kum-ings (outside or water-proof boots) and covering for boats.

The way I happened to find this out was as follows: I had arranged for Koodloo to make a sealskin covering for Ebierbing's kia, and to put it on. This morning, as nothing else could be done on account of the bad weather, I asked Tookoolito if Koodloo could not proceed with it. To my astonishment, she replied that "Innuits could not do such work at the present time." Her answer seemed to me so strange that I made farther inquiries of her, when she told me that "if they worked on the skins for the kia, Ebierbing would never get well; he would die. The first Innuits' adhered to this custom, and they must too. All their people believe this, and could not help it. Many Innuits had died because of the working on skins for kias and kum-ings while one of their number about them was sick at the time." She added, "The reason why Koodloo could not shoot any thing yesterday, though close by some ducks, was because wrong was done in working while Ebierbing lay sick."

"But," said I to Tookoolito, as I was engaged chafing Ebierbing's side and back, and applying liniment, "what are you doing now but working?"

She replied, holding up her hands full of needles that were flying swiftly in knitting, "This is not work."

Her answer nearly made me laugh aloud; but I repressed the feeling, and quietly accepted her definition of what was or was not work. I was also told that during Ebierbing's sickness the angeko must do no work on any account.

We were now living on pemmican and coffee. I dealt out enough bread for Ebierbing, as he was sick, but there was no supply for any of us yet. Sunday night was a stormy one, with the

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wind from the northeast blowing almost a gale. Every thing was in a wet state, outside and in, except bedding and clothing. A flood of water occupied half of the tupic.

It would astonish most people at home to see how comfortably I lived with the Innuits, like one of themselves. While I jotted down notes, or more fully wrote out notes previously made, Suzhi chanted some Innuit tune, and Ebierbing and Tookoolito enjoyed what among civilized white folks would be a "tea-table chat." We lived also, at times, on pemmican and kelp, a sea-weed gathered by the Innuits when the tide is out. These people are not exclusively flesh-eaters, for in the summer-time they occasionally gather and eat a few berries and leaves of stunted wild plants that grow sparsely in these regions. Both summer and winter they collect kelp, and eat it, but only as a sort of luxury, except in case of great scarcity of food, and then they fall back upon this resource. I have acquired a taste for this sea-weed, and eat it as they do, raw or boiled, in which latter state it is more tender.

The stormy weather continued some days, and no work could be done. On Tuesday, August 6th, the wind blew a gale, with rain. On Wednesday we had a little better weather, and I went over to the ship again to see Captain B. I hoped to set out on my trip up Frobisher Bay within a day or two. On Wednesday evening, during ebb tide, the "ghost" of the Rescue drifted out of the harbor into the bay, and went seaward. I thought this was probably the last we should see of her. On the same evening I communicated to Ebierbing and Tookoolito my intended immediate departure, and informed them that I had made arrangements with the captain for their removal nearer the ship, so that Ebierbing might receive some better attention. They were sorrowful at my leaving, but hoped to see me again before many weeks.

I then requested Ebierbing to assist me in persuading Koodloo and his nuliana "Jennie" to accompany me, which would just complete my now proposed crew. I soon found that both Ebierbing and Tookoolito were very loth to have the angeko (Jennie) leave while Ebierbing was sick. I therefore I therefore gave her up, accept

ing Koodloo's offer to go without her.

On Thursday morning, the 8th of August, I found that Ebierbing had slept better than for several nights past. At 9 A.M., while Koodloo was on the top of our island (Whale Island), he cried down to Tookoolito, who was making our morning coffee

under the lee of some rocks, that a boat was coming from the ship. I ran up, and was delighted to find it so, for I knew by this that the proposals I had made to the Innuits Koojesse and Charley, whom, with their wives, I wanted for my crew, had been accepted; and yet I was pained, as I thought of the necessity of leaving behind my faithful friends Ebierbing and Tookoolito. I hastened back, took my cup of coffee and dish of lump pemmican, and breakfasted.

Well, the boat arrived, and brought me a note from Captain B. I told Ebierbing that we could now remove him and his effects; that Captain B had kindly responded to my request, and sent down for him, and that so good an opportunity ought not to be lost. He was willing to do as I advised, but Koodloo was slow to move. Meanwhile almost a gale had sprung up in the east, rendering it inexpedient to venture to take Ebierbing to the ship in his weak state. As it was necessary to visit the ship prior to my final departure on the proposed voyage, I left Ebierbing and Tookoolito with the assurance that I would call again the next day, and that they would be removed as soon as Ebierbing could bear it and the weather should permit. We arrived on board just at noon. Shortly after, Koojesse and Charley came aboard from the Innuit village near the ship, when I soon found that they were fearful I wished to prolong my stay at the head of Frobisher Bay until the cold weather, and, if so, they were not disposed to go. I therefore explained to them that I should probably return in about a month, or, at farthest, in less than two months. They were then quite satisfied, and agreed to accompany me. My journal of this day, August 8th, 1861, concludes

thus:

"As I meet Koojesse and Kooperneung (Charley), I find them in capital spirits. At tea their wives Tu-nuk-der-lien and Akchuk-er-zhun are aboard, and appear in good new dresses, and hair dressed in 'States fashion.' Converse with them of the voyage we are about to make to 'wes-see-poke' (far-off land). I am highly elated, my crew so far excellent. Captain B- with whom I have counseled, advises me to take Ebierbing's aunt, Koo-ou-le-arng (Suzhi), making, with Koodloo, a crew of six—five at the oars and one boat-steerer, leaving me free to be constantly on the look-out. The only objection to Suzhi is that she is very heavy, weighing not less than 200 pounds—the very heaviest Innuit of the country.

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"All arrangements are now made to start from the vessel early to-morrow morning. Breakfast is ordered by Captain B to be in readiness at 5 A.M. The Innuits are to strike their tupics, and have them in the boat, and be alongside at that hour. The weather is now good, and to-night gives every indication of a fair day to-morrow. May it prove so. I have taken out of the ship's "run" a can (ninety pounds) of pemmican, and one cask of 'Borden's' meat-biscuit (about one hundred pounds), brought with me from home. These I shall carry along in the boat, being the most condensed form of valuable provisions. Not that I expect these will be the only provisions I shall have, for there is reason to suppose we shall acquire much in going up Frobisher Bay in the way of ducks, seals, and reindeer, the latter when we arrive at the head of Frobisher Bay.

"At a late hour I turn in, to rise early, that we may be off to reap the benefit of a fair tide not only in going down to, but proceeding through Lupton Channel. An ebb tide will favor us much in getting to the channel, and the flood in getting through it."

CHAPTER XXI.

Departure on Boat-voyage to explore Frobisher Bay.—An Innuit Crew.—Author the only White Man.—Arrives at Lupton Channel, and makes first Encampment. —Next Day's Journey.—Innuit Mode of drowning Ducks.—Joyousness of the Crew.—Passing through Bear Sound.—Visit the deserted Whaling Depot.—Second Encampment on Sharko.—Third Day's Trip.—A Bear-hunt in the Water.— Author's narrow Escape.—Land on Oopungnewing.—Musquitoes again.—Visit Niountelik. Explore the Island.—Important Discovery.—"Sea-coal !”—Proof of Frobisher's Expedition having visited here.—Joy of the Author.—Corroborative Testimony of Innuits from Tradition.—Carefully examine a Deposit of Coal.— Return to Oopungnewing.—Great Feast on the Bear.—Innuit Customs.—Bear's Bladder and Charms.—Polar Bear's Liver poisonous.

"Friday, August 9th, 1861. I was up in good season, and got every thing in readiness; then started off in a boat a company of young Innuits—' trundle-bed Innuits,' as Captain B― called them—who slept aboard the George Henry last night, to call up Koojesse, and Kooperneung, and their nulianas (wives).

"Breakfast was ready at the appointed moment, and the Innuits of my company ready for it. This dispatched, my bag and baggage were placed snugly in the boat, along with the already well-packed assortment such as Innuits have. As usual in starting off, I compared chronometers.

* * *

*

*

"All in readiness and aboard, we start, purposing to stop at Whale Island for Koodloo, Koo-ou-le-arng (Suzhi), and my things, as well as to bid my Innuit children, Ebierbing and Tookoolito, good-by. All hands were on deck to witness our departure. Captain B's smiling face, of course, was not wanting in the picture the scene presented. As the boat was pushed out into fair water for a 'white-ash breeze,' standing with steering-oar in my hand, I asked Captain B― if 'in the name of God and the Continental Congress'—I should take possession of the country I was about to visit and explore, planting the American flag upon

it.

"He answering affirmatively, I then bade him and all adieu, expressing the hope that when I returned I should find every cask of the George Henry overflowing with oil, and all her decks filled high with bone.