Having safely doubled the point or cape of Uibvaksoak, we came to an anchor near a small island to the south, where we spent the night.

5th.  Calm weather, and proceeded gently.  About 9 A.M. the wind turned against us, and we ran into a small bay, about five miles from our former anchoring-place.  Here we found the Andromeda tetragona growing in tolerable quantity, on the banks of a lagoon of fresh water.  The face of the country was unpleasant, with many steep rocks.  On a precipice behind our tent we perceived nests of birds of prey.  The naked rocks had singular shapes, and presented to the imagination the ruins of a destroyed town.  In the vallies we saw many small lagoons, but little grass, and the excrements of geese.  It was about full moon, and the tide rising here five or six fathom, occasioned the most strange alterations in the prospect towards the sea, which, being smooth and clear of rocks at high water, exhibited, after its fall, an archipelago of rugged islands and black flats.

CHAPTER IX.

Chain of black mountains.  The Dragon’s dwelling.  Changes occasioned by rise and fall of the tides, and dangers attending them.  Uttakiyok’s superstitious customs.  Singular effect of the tide in the bay of Ittimnekoktok.  Arrive at Kangertlualuksoak bay and river.  Its situation.  Transactions there.

August 6th.—­We crossed the bay Abloriak, which is large and wide, with many small islands and rocks towards the sea, and high black mountains inland, called Torngaets.  Uttakiyok, who was always very eager to make us attentive to every object and its name, shewed us here a wide and deep cavern, in shape like the gable end of an house, situated at the top of a precipice, in a black mountain, of a very horrid and dark appearance.  This, he informed us, was the dwelling place of Torngak, the evil spirit.  The scenery was, indeed, extremely wild and terrible, and the beforementioned prospect of the rocks and islands at low water gave to the whole country a most singularly gloomy character.  Nor is this change, occasioned by the tide in the state of the sea, merely in appearance terrific, it is so in reality:  for we never durst cast anchor in less than eight or nine fathoms water, lest at ebb-tide we should find ourselves aground, or even high and dry.

The cavern just spoken of, connected with the chain of black mountains in which it is situated, we called the Dragon’s dwelling, but had no time to examine the place, though it did not appear inaccessible.  Whether Uttakiyok would have ventured to accompany us into it, is another question, for he was, with all his good sense, strongly attached to the superstitious notions and ceremonies of his countrymen.  Thus, on passing dangerous places he always hung the claw of a raven to his breast, and carried the blown paunch of a seal upon a tent-pole fixed to one side of his boat.  The latter is a common practice among the northern Esquimaux, and probably considered by them all as a very efficient charm.