CONTINUE THE VOYAGE. 383 CHAPTER XXIII. Leave eighth Encampment.—Seals.—Meeting Innuits.—Make ninth Encampment on Rae's Point.—A Seal-feast.—Reindeer Moss abundant.—More traditional History. Start on Voyage again.—A two-mile Walk over Rocks.—Jack the Angeko.—Ankooting Tweroong.—The two Boats and two Kias.—Picturesque appearance of the Women Rowers.—The Flag of the Free.—Tenth Encampment. —Icebergs on the Rocks.—Renew the Voyage.—Visit the Island Frobisher's Farthest. The great Gateway.—President's Seat.- Beautiful and warm Day. — Fine Scenery.—Make eleventh Encampment.—Morning Walk.—Abundance of Game.—Seals and Reindeer in abundance.—The Roar of a Cataract.—Waters alive with Salmon.—Discover the Termination of Frobisher Bay.—Enter an Estuary.—Make Landing.—A Leming.—Tweroong sketches Kingaite Coast.—Reindeer Skins for Clothing.—Luxuriant Fields.—Reindeer Tallow good.—A pedestrian Excursion.—Innuit Monument.—Ancient Dwellings.—Sylvia Grinnell River. —A Pack of Wolves.—Glories of the calm clear Night.—Aurora again.—A Land abounding with Reindeer.—Blueberries.—Method of taking Salmon.—Bow and Arrows. On the following morning, Monday, August 19th, 1861, we were in readiness to leave our eighth encampment, and pursue our journey. Starting at 10 15, we crossed the mouth of a deep. bay, across which, and about ten miles up from our course, lies a long island, called by the natives Ki-ki-tuk-ju-a. Koojesse informed me that he had been to that "long island," and that the bay extended a considerable distance beyond. The shores of this bay I found to trend about N.N.W. Koojesse also said that it was one day's journey to the head of it from the island. From this, and other data which he furnished, I concluded, and so recorded it in my journal at the time, that the bay is from twenty to twenty-five miles in extent.* Unfortunately for my desire to get on, a number of seals were seen, and my crew were soon engaged in pursuit. This delayed us some time; and when another similar stoppage took place, I felt that it was hopeless to think of going far that day, and accordingly landed, while the Innuits followed what they supposed to be * I effected a complete exploration of this bay and the island named on a sledgejourney which I made in the spring of 1862. This, however, will come in its proper place in the sequel of my narrative. seals, but which, as will shortly be seen, were quite another sort of game. I walked among gigantic old rocks, well marked by the hand of Time, and then wandered away up the mountains. There I came across an Innuit grave. It was simply a number of stones piled up in such a way as to leave just room enough for the dead body without a stone touching it. All the stones were covered with the moss of generations. During my walk a storm of wind and rain came on, and compelled me to take shelter under the lee of a friendly ridge of rocks. There I could watch Koojesse and his company in the boat advancing toward what was thought an ookgook and many smaller seals. All at once what had seemed to be the ookgook commenced moving, and so likewise did the smaller seals. A slight turn of the supposed game suddenly gave to all a different appearance. I then perceived a boat, with black gunwales, filled with Innuit men, women, and children, and also kias on each side of the boat. Seeing this, Koojesse pulled in for me, and we started together for the strangers. A short time, however, proved them to be friends. The large boat contained "Miner," his wife Tweroong, To-loo-ka-ah, his wife Koo-muk (louse), the woman Puto, and several others whom I knew. They were spending the summer up there deer-hunting, and had been very successful. Soon after joining them we all disembarked in a snug little harbor, and erected our tents in company on Rae's Point,* which is close by an island called by the natives No-ook-too-ad-loo. The rain was pouring down when we landed, and the bustle that followed reminded me of similar activity on the steam-boat piers at home. As fast as things were taken out of the boats, such as had to be kept dry were placed under the shelving of rocks until the tupics were up. Then, our encampment formed, all parties had leisure to greet each other, which we did most warmly. Tweroong was very ill, and appeared to me not far from her death. Her uniform kindness to me wherever I had met her made her condition a source of sadness to me. I could only express my sympathy, and furnish her with a few civilized comforts brought with me. She was the mother of Kooperneung, one of my crew, by her first husband, then deceased. Named by the author after Dr. John Rae, the well-known English arctic explorer. Rae's Point, place of our ninth encampment, is in Int. 03° 20' N., long. 67° 33' W. INNUIT TRADITIONS. 385 A great feast was made that evening upon the rocks. A captured ookgook was dissected by four carvers, who proved themselves, as all Innuits are, skillful anatomists. Indeed, as I have before said, there is not a bone or fragment of a bone picked up but the Innuits can tell to what animal it belonged. In the evening I also took a walk about the neighborhood, and was astonished to see such an abundance of reindeer moss. The ground near our tents was literally white with it, and I noticed many tuktoo tracks. Our stay at this encampment continued over the next day, and I took the opportunity of questioning Tweroong, who was said to know much about the traditions of her people, as to any knowl edge she might possess concerning the coal, brick, and iron at Niountelik. Koojesse was my interpreter, and through him I gained the following information: Tweroong had frequently seen the coal there, and likewise heavy pieces of stone (iron) on an island close by. She had often heard. the oldest Innuits speak of them. The coal and other things were there long before she was born. She had seen Innuits with pieces of brick that came from there. The pieces of brick were used for brightening the women's hair-rings and the brass ornaments worn on their heads. She said old Innuits related that very many years ago a boat, or small ship, was built by a few white men on a little island near Niountelik. I showed her the coal I had brought with me from Niountelik, and she recognized it directly as some like that she had seen. Owing to the condition of my own boat, I was anxious to have the company of another craft in my voyage up the bay. I accordingly effected an arrangement with the Innuit "Miner" and his party to keep along with me; and on the following day, August 21st, at 9 A.M., we all set out from the encampment to pursue our journey. While Koojesse and my crew were loading the boat, I ascended a mountain close by, and, after as good a look around as the foggy weather would allow, I began to descend by another path. But I soon found that the way I had chosen was impracticable. The mountain-side was one vast rock, roof-like, and too steep for human feet. Finally, after a long, hard tug down hill, up hill, and along craggy rocks, I gained the beach, and hailed the boat, which took me on board after a walk of two miles. BB We made what speed we could to the westward and northward, having to use the oars, the wind being right ahead. In an hour's time we came to an island, where the other boat was stopping a while. Here I saw "Jack," the angeko, performing the ceremony of ankooting over poor sick Tweroong. The woman was reclining on some tuktoo furs in the boat's bow, while Jack was seated on the tide-wet rocks, making loud exclamations on her behalf. It is very strange what faith these people place in such incantations. I never saw the ceremony otherwise than devoutly attended to. I then took my usual exploring walk upon the island, seeing the bones of a huge whale, portions of which were covered with moss, and the rest bleached to a pure white, but all as heavy as stone. When we again started, the sight of the two boats and two kias pulling side by side was particularly interesting. There were fourteen souls on board the other boat, men, women, and children, the women pulling at the oars; in each of the two kias was also an Innuit man. The raven hair of the females hanging loosely about the head and face—the flashing ornaments of brass on their heads their native dress—their methodical rock to and fro as they propelled the boat along, formed, indeed, a striking picture. All were abreast, the two boats and the two kias, and pulling in friendly competition. "Miner" had a flag of checked red, white, and black at the bow of his boat, and the glorious ensign of the United States was streaming to the breeze at the bow of mine. To me the scene was one of indescribable interest. In that region—never before visited by white man, except when Frobisher, three centuries ago, set foot there—it was perfectly novel in its features, and I was truly thankful that I had been blessed with the privilege of raising the "Flag of the Free" in that strange land. Our progress during the day was not very great, owing to the frequent stoppages of my Innuit crew. Let me be ever so anxious to get on, or to do any thing in the way of making observations, if a seal popped up his head, or any thing appeared in the shape of game, away they would go in chase, utterly regardless of my wants or wishes. They meant no ill; but the Innuits are like eagles—untamable. Before reaching our tenth encampment* that night, which was * In lat. 63° 32' N., long. 67° 51′ W., by a small cove one mile north of the important island I have named "FROBISHER'S FARTHEST," called by the Innuits Ki-ki-tuk-ju-a. FROBISHER'S FARTHEST. 387 similar to the previous one, we passed numerous small bergs, left high and dry on the rocks near the coast by the low spring-tide, as seen in the accompanying engraving. On the following morning, August 22d, we again set out, making our way among numerous islands, and along land exhibiting luxuriant verdure. Miner's boat and company proceeded on up the bay, while Charley and I were set ashore on the north side of the island"Frobisher's Farthest," leaving instructions with the rest of the crew that we would make our way in two or three hours northerly and westerly to the upper end of the island, where we would get aboard. The place where we landed was very steep, and the ascent was laborious. I had belted to my side my five |