the 20th sealing, and returned the following day, having secured eight seals, weighing in all about 1,400 pounds. This would have supplied them with food for a long time had they provident habits.
At this time news came by Koojesse from the whaling dépôt at Cape True, in Frobisher Bay. All the officers and crew stationed there were well, though still unsuccessful.
As Koojesse was to return as soon as possible, I determined to go with him, and accordingly we set out on the following evening, June 21st.
At 7 p.m. we left the ship, with sledge and a team of eight dogs, including my faithful Barbekark. Our load was light, and we went along over the uncertain ice at three miles an hour. We had a thick fog all the way in crossing Field Bay, and Koojesse, though a capital guide, was evidently taking a wrong course after leaving Rescue Harbour, until I showed him by my compass, how we ought to go. By that means we got into the old sledge-tracks, marking the course to and fro, and were even with French Head[1] in two and a half hours from the ship.
On the passage I noticed another singular and striking method which the natives use to capture seals. I will relate the incident as recorded in my journal of Saturday, the 22d of June:—
"We saw many seals out on the ice, but did not succeed in killing any, though Koojesse made several attempts. ..... At 7.43 p.m. Rescue Harbour time, the dog Merok (brother dog of the notable Barbekark), a good sealer, saw a seal which he had scented some moments previous. Away he darted as fast as his now inspirited companion-dogs would allow him. Koojesse at once saw what was up, and set up a peculiar, continued loud cry, in which I joined. The flying dogs, with kummitie, and our noise, so alarmed poor seal that it knew not what to do. The seal had his head over his hole,
- ↑ "French Head" is a prominent headland, south side of Field Bay, and so named to commemorate the death of the Frenchman, which occurred near its base, as related in Chapter XIII. French Head is in lat. 62° W 30″ N. long. 64° 45′ W.
