Page:Life with the Esquimaux - 1864 - Volume 1.djvu/317

CHAPTER XVI.

Snow-blindness—Month of May—Ship released from her Ice-fetters—A spirited Scene—Sledge-dogs at full Speed—Terrific Encounter with a Bear—A Toss in the Air—A powerful Innuit—The aged Woman, Ookijoxy Ninoo—Tookoolito Interpreter—Important Information—Traditions relating to White Men very many Years ago—Ships with many People had arrived-Two Innuit Women taken away—Five Innuits killed by White Men—Five White Men among the Innuits—Written History confirmed by Oral Tradition—Barrow's History of Arctic Discovery—Relics of the White Men to be found—Wood, Coal, Brick, Iron—Innuits must possess the Truth concerning Franklin's Expedition—The Dreaded Land—Preparations for Summer Work—Ice—Pools of Water formed—Arrive on Land—Extensive View—A beautiful Grassy Plain—Comparison with Greenland—Lands behind the Coast, at this part, very fertile.

Directly after my arrival on board, on April 29th, 1861, I had a good wash, which I stood much in need of. I then found that snow-blindness had come upon me. During the journey I had felt some difficulty in sighting the way, but did not experience any pain. Now, however, my face burned as if on fire, and my eyes were intolerably painful. My cheeks were much the colour of tanned hide, and all about my features gave unmistakable evidence of exposure to severe weather.

That night I again enjoyed the luxury of taking off my skin dress, which I had not been able to do for the previous eight days. But my snow-blindness, which is attended with most excruciating pain, allowed me little rest, and the next morning found me so bad that I could hardly do anything.

It was now the last day of April, 1861, and many symptoms of a change from winter to summer (the only real changes during the year in arctic climes) were observable. True, a heavy snowstorm was prevailing, but the weather was much milder than it had been, and the ice was beginning toy ield. In the morning the ship was released from her ice-fetters, and