Page:Life with the Esquimaux - 1864 - Volume 1.djvu/302

Rh groaning of ice far away. I asked Koojesse what it was, and he replied, Meituks (ducks). I thought it could not be possible, but was a whimsical reason given by Innuits for something they know exists, and yet cannot comprehend. I laughed, shrugged my shoulders, and then passed on.

We arrived at the other village after a walk of about three miles, and there I met Mr. Sterry, the George Henry's carpenter.

He was suffering from snow-blindness, brought on by exposure upon the ice while out with a party of Innuits walrus hunting. He had obtained leave of absence from his duties on board, and was now living with the natives, "keeping house" (igloo) as though he was of the country. Together we went on a hill to watch the movements of the Innuit Miner, who, with a gun, was sealing. We saw him working his way almost imperceptibly along in his ki-a through the openings in the ice toward his coveted prey,