t of Kangertluksoak, on which their winter houses were
built. Between the rocks, the ground is everywhere covered with grass,
the snow was already melted, and the young grass began most
beautifully to shoot up. The spring appeared to be much earlier here
than at Okkak, where, at present, every thing was covered with deep
snow; the mountains are not so steep, the land lies lower and nearer
the open sea: but the flat where the houses of the Esquimaux are, is
surrounded by numerous small islands. From the declivity behind, in
many places the open sea can be seen, with the promontory of Saeglak,
the distance to which is only about 5 or 6 hours, with a good sledge
path; consequently, it appeared admirably adapted for a mission
station. Saeglak would afford excellent fishing ground for our
people, should the heathen leave it, which must very soon happen, as
within these last few years, the inhabitants of these parts have
greatly diminished, many of them coming to reside among us. Upon the
whole, from all that we have heard or seen, Kangertluksoak is one of
the best fishing places, and as some remain here the whole year, we
can have the Esquimaux more with us than at any of the other
settlements. There are, however, many other advantages we must give up
here; the nearest forest lies to the south of Nappartok, and is about
eighteen or twenty miles distant, the nearest road by land; by water
it is greater. While we sent the Esquimaux for the frame of our little
house, which lay about half an hour's journey from this, we went to
take a view of the place, near the winter houses of the Esquimaux.
Adjoining these, at a little distance from the beach, we found a plain
sufficiently large for buildings, gardens, &c.; and after we had
examined all the country round the river, we resolved to erect our
little dwelling here, and our Esquimaux having brought the wood, it
was soon erected. All the natives who were present willingly assisted
in laying the foundation with stones, and filling it up with
sand--part of the boards were nailed on the same day. The house stands
on an eminence, in the neighbourhood of a small lake, which the
Esquimaux assured us had water in it during the greater part of the
summer, and probably, by a little labour, it may be formed into a good
reservoir. We continued our building, without intermission, till the
21st, when we finished. On the 22nd we floored the house, prepared the
bed-rooms, fixed a table and bench b