Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-10-15
BY DONALD Ii. MncMILLAS.
Continued from last SundayD

there was land not far distant we
knew-knew in spite of our strange
experience In sailing for many miles
where all the charts showed dry
land. For we had seen this unex-
plored Baffin land coast when pro-
ceeding northward August Fl. So
much. at any rate. we knew to be
there.
Astronomical, sights at midnight
placed US in % degrees .. inches
latitude and ~ d. grces l. inches
west longitude NJ an "" swung
the Bowdoin off 70 the eastward
again. passing througi hig herds
OF walrus. consisting vi hiG males
and numerous females. with their
young. We needed the meat. but
time was much more valuable to
us then. Winter was coming and 1t
was Imperative that we find winter
quarters Our ship seemed to cause
them very little alarm. Evidently
they had never seen or had encoun-
tered very few in their section. The
anxious mothers naturally huddled
their young to their breasts. holding
1880
sndeavored to keep the lnquisitive
young under water.
The face of 4 walrus always recalls
II memory the remark uf the awe
stricken old lady upon seeing Il hip
popotamus for the first time: MY
Lord. amt he plain
At 8 in the morning the tops OF
high hills were visible. with the land
terminating abruptly northward. but
stretching southwark into the haze.
This point was without a doubt the
Cape Dorchester of Luke Fox of 290
years ago. but placed by that navi-
gator thirtv-one miles too far west
ward and fifty-fivc too FAX mt edward.
At II O'Clock We we're close in to
/ \ the cape and sailed eastward
along the northern shores clean OF
ice. hoping to be able I" follow the
lead to the mouth of the outlet of
Nettilling lake. Shoals and strong
tides marked every step of our
progress.
The bottom looked like clean. white.
lldCu SdHu anu TIE "dlei d
gray as far as the eye could reach.
\ harbor here during the ebb tide
might enable us to undertake a re-
connoissance eastward IN one of our
dories. We conned the Bowdoin care
fully between shoals and outcropping
reefs. only to discover that what
seemed a safe and secure harbor was
a mass of beach lodges in very shoal
water At low tide the harbor would
be undoubtedly dry.
Reluctantly. We turned back. scan
ming infinitely every blight. but not
one offered a shelter until We reached
Cape Dorchester. when a deep bay
opened out. looking fairly promising.
II We could winter here a good work
might still be done geographically. A
nearer view dispelled all hopes. That
detestable. ever-prevalent green wa
ter occupied the whole inner section.
The outer half was entirely exposed
to storms and drift ice. We turned
slowly southwark, looking yearningly
back on what seemed out last posi-
bility for exploration on this western
shore.
Scarcely had We proceeded a quar-
ter mile when we were startled by
four rifle shots in rapid succession.
know how Robinson Crusoe felt
when he saw the footprints of Fri
day. 1t was almost uncomfortable to
believe that human beings would in
habit such a desolate, dreary-looking
stretch of land as we beheld over the
stern Of the Bowdoin. Logically they
should have been distress signals!
But there was no mistaking the shots,
and back we went at full speed,
, scrutinizing the shore line closely for
movement of any kind. Within few
minutes three tupiks. or tents. were
deserted occupying a commanding po-
sition among the rocks. A nearer
view disclosed a whaleboat sailing
from the land. fairly black with ma
tfves and deep in the water.
WE dropped under in eight fathoms
w and awaited their arrival.
When within hailing distance our in
terpreter inquired about a good an
chorage and was informed that we
The smell arrived long before the
aid. It generally precedes an Eskimo.
especially during the summer months.
when living upon fresh walrus and
seal meat. With no soap. no towels
and a bath unknown. this odor Is
not exactly that of newmown hay.
Over our rail they climbed. wrinkled
old women, mothers with babies in
their hoods and little tots passed up
into outstretched arms; all laughing
and happy as Eskimos always are.
and clad to SEQ the white man again.
On the whole. they were a bit cleaner
. and a better type than the Eskimos
whom We met at the Middle Savage
Islands.
They gave US much information con-
corning tho coast. verifying all that
we suspected, and had actually learn
ed during our trip. namely. that the
coast northward was scarcely above
water; that 1t Is absolutely impos-
sible for a schooner such as ours to
approach 1t on account Of shoals: that
there are no seals, because all ice lay
grounded on low water. consequently
no bears: no walrus-in fact. only
geese. That only q goose would go
there Increased my respect for that
veb-footed mud-wader. Undoubtedly
ft Is a goose paradise during the
sprfng and summer months, q Garden
Of Eden that Is we'll watered judging
nv fhe accounts Of the Eskimos.