We now lighted a fire, boiled coffee, and cooked a dish of reindeer venison.  The weather was warm, and the night fine and clear, but frosty.  Having brought our travelling-beds with us on shore, (see page 34), we crept into them, and spent the night at the fire-side, the Esquimaux lying down anywhere about us.  In the morning, the whole country was covered with hoar-frost, and the straw we had lain upon was frozen fast to the ground.

CHAPTER X.

Further transactions in Kangertlualuksoak Bay.  The Esquimaux women frightened by reports of Indians.  Ceremony of taking possession of this new-explored country, as belonging to the King of England, and of naming the river George river.  Leave the bay and proceed to Arvarvik.  Whales caught by the Esquimaux in the shallows.  Storm at Kernertut.

August 11th.—­We rose by break of day, and after breakfast, sailed across the bay, and landed at the second small inlet, with an intention of penetrating into the country, but the returning warmth of the weather by day, and the myriads of musquitoes we had to contend with, rendered us unable to execute our purpose.

The Missionaries and Jonathan ascended a hill, from which a great tract of country might be overlooked.  It was full of wood, as far as the eye could reach.  Near the inlet some places seemed boggy, or covered with grass.  From hence a valley stretched into the country, with a small lake in it, about two or three miles distant.  Berries were every where in abundance.  The summits of the hills had no wood upon them, but much reindeer-moss.

On our return, being about a mile from our landing-place, we saw our skin-boat in the middle of the bay, and fired a gun as a signal for it to come to us.  The Esquimaux had five rein-deer in the boat, which Uttakiyok had perceived on the opposite bank.  He had followed them in his kayak, driven them into the water, and killed them there.  When hard pressed, reindeer soon take to the water, and swim so well, that a four-oared boat can scarcely come up with them, but an Esquimaux, in his kayak will overtake them.  They therefore, if possible, drive them into the water, being then sure of their game.

After dining on part of the venison, we returned to the great boat.  On the passage, we thought we perceived at a considerable distance a black bear, and Uttakiyok, elated with his recent success, hoped to gain new laurels.  He entered his kayak and proceeded as cautiously as possible along the shore, towards the spot, landed, climbed the hill, so as not to be observed, but when he had got just within gun-shot, perceived, that his bear was a black stone.  This adventure furnished the company with merriment for the remainder of the voyage to the boat, which we reached about six P.M.