Page:Life with the Esquimaux - 1864 - Volume 2.djvu/85

66 wind and tide had driven in from Davis's Straits. Between Parker's Bay and French Head we made an island which I found to be entirely of rock, without a particle of vegetation or of soil. An impenetrable fog had surrounded us nearly all the afternoon, and the boat compass was in constant use until toward evening, when the fog began to lift. Charley shot a seal at a long distance with my rifle. We now had a raw seal feast. As we approached Lupton Channel—which it was doubtful if we could get through, on account of the quantity of ice—we passed a berg, which Tunukderlien ascended. At 6.44 we reached the entrance of Lupton Channel, and found a strong tide running into Field Bay, whirling, foaming, roaring, and boiling like a caldron. As we laboured on, at our right were the iron cliffs of Bache's Peninsula, and conspicuous among them was a bold rock terminating like a chimney-top. On the left lay Lok's Land, the "much-dreaded land" of the Innuits; and looking forward down the channel, we saw the bold front of Ellis Island. By dint of hard pulling we at last got through the channel, but I had to give up all idea of reaching Cape True that night, as had been my intention and hope. We therefore stopped at 8 in a small cove on the southeast side of Bache's Peninsula, and opposite to Ellis Island, and there made our first encampment. Ducks were abundant, and the Innuits shot several. We found wood plentiful, from the wreck of the Traveller. We were closely packed this first night out in our large tupic, after a glorious supper of seal, ducks, and coffee. Here we found relics of former Innuit encampments, circles of stones, bones of seal, walrus, &c. We saw a white whale making its way up the channel. Next morning, Saturday, August 10th, 1861, at 8 we proceeded on the voyage. In passing down through Bear