﻿1848. POINT ATKINSON. 253 



would give them something on a future occasion, 

 if they came again to us. 



Mr. Rae went in pursuit of rein-deer in the 

 afternoon, but the talking of the men who were 

 wandering about scared away the animals. He 

 was more successful in the night, and, by taking 

 Halkett's portable boat on shore with him, killed 

 nineteen brent geese, and some ducks. The water- 

 fowl at this time were moulting in the small lakes, 

 and became an easy prey. 



Aug. 5th. — A strong gale of wind raised a 

 high surf on the shoals under which we lay, so 

 that we could not launch the boats over them sea- 

 wards. We, therefore, made sail when the tide rose, 

 and ran on the inside of them until we became 

 involved among the flats, and the boats were left 

 quite dry. During low water, we marked off the 

 best channels with poles. The tide began to flow 

 at 11^ A.M., and by 2 J p.m., there was water 

 enough for us to proceed, by launching the boats 

 over some bars which intervened between the place 

 where we were detained, and deeper water. Fol- 

 lowing a narrow channel till 5 in the afternoon, 

 we secured the boats in a snug harbour under a 

 tongue of sand at Point Atkinson. A strong 

 north-west gale had raised a high sea, and we 

 could do no otherwise than remain here at anchor 

 until the wind and sea subsided. 



