2V RICHARDSON'S AND RAE'S EXPLORAT* )NS. 



a circle with a ten-feet radius, from the point of a broad 

 arrow painted on a signal-post ; and they afterwards 

 did the same thing, or similar, on Whale Island, at the 

 mouth of the Mackenzie ; on Point Toker, in latitude 

 69 38' north, and longitude 132 15' west ; on Cape 

 Bathurst, the most northerly point between the Mac- 

 kenzie and the Coppermine ; and on Cape Parry, at the 

 east side of the entrance of Franklin Bay. 



The explorers encountered head winds throughout 

 most of their progress of eight hundred miles or up- 

 wards, from the exit of the Mackenzie to the mouth of 

 the Coppermine ; and they always kept near the shore, 

 and landed at least twice a day to cook, occasionally to 

 hunt, often to look out from the high capes, and com- 

 monly, at night, to sleep on shore. Immediately off the 

 efflux of the Mackenzie they had an interview with 

 about three hundred Esquimaux ; and at many subse- 

 quent points they communicated with other parties, 

 who were assembled on headlands to hunt whales, or 

 scattered along the coast in pursuit of reindeer and 

 water-fowl. The Esquimaux were confiding and frank, 

 and all said that no ships had recently appeared on the 

 coast ; and those west of Cape Bathurst further said 

 that during the preceding six weeks they never saw 

 any ice. 



One fellow alone, in answer to inquiries after white 

 men, said, "A party of men are living on that island/' 

 pointing, as he spoke, to Richard's Island. As Rich- 

 ardson had actually landed there on the preceding day, 

 he ordered the interpreter to inform him that he knew 

 that he was lying. He received this retort with a smile, 

 and without the slightest discomposure, but did not 

 repeat his assertion. Neither the Esquimaux nor the 

 Dog-rib or Hare Indians feel the least shame in being 

 detected in falsehood ; and they invariably practise it., 



