150 Scientific Notices — Miscellaneous. [Aug, 



Whale Island is, as Mackensie states in this chart, fresh ; but 

 a few miles from Garry's Island, which is thirty miles to sea- 

 ward, and out of sight of the other, it changes its colour and 

 taste. The mighty volume of water which rolls down the 

 Mackenzie, carries shoals of sand, and a brackish stream a long 

 way out. Captain Franklin did not join Dr. Richardson ana 

 his party before the 5th September last, at Fort Franklin, in 

 Bear Lake, the navigation up the river being tedious, from the 

 strength of the current. The Sharpeyes or Quarrelers of Mac- 

 kenzie, who inhabit the lower parts of the river, resemble the 

 Esquimaux a good deal in their manners and language, and 

 that part of the tribe who live nearest the sea were partially 

 understood by our Esquimaux interpreter. The Esquimaux 

 being at this season inland, hunting the rein -deer, were not 

 seen, but the Sharpeyes have promised to give them notice of 

 our intended voyage next year. Every thing at present pro- 

 mises success to our future operations. The boats sent out 

 from England answer admirably, and we are well provided with 

 stores for the voyage. During Captain Franklin's absence 

 Dr. Richardson surveyed this lake, vvhich is about 120 miles 

 long, extending from lat. 65° 10', long. 123° 29^ where Fort 

 Franklin is built, to lat. 67°, long. 119°, within 70 miles of the 

 nearest bend of the Coppermine River, and about 85 miles from 

 its mouth. Garry's Island Hes in lat. 69° 29', long. 135° 42', 

 about 450 miles from the mouth of the Coppermine, and about 

 600 from Icy Cape, distances which may easily be accom- 

 plished, even during the short period that the Arctic Sea is 

 navigable for boats, if no greater obstacles occur than were 

 visible from the mouth of Mackenzie's river. . A canoe is to be 

 deposited at the north eastern arm of this lake, by which the 

 eastern party will save 200 miles of land journey on their return. 

 But a very cursory view of the rocks was taken in the voyage 

 down the river, as was to be expected from the rapidity with 

 which the party travelled. The oldest rocks met with were in 

 the portions of the rocky mountains which skirt the river, and 

 which are composed of transition limestone. From that there 

 is a very complete series of formations down to the new red 

 sand stone, exposed in various parts. The rocks of the coal 

 formation are particularly interesting, from the strong resem- 

 blance the organic remains found in the sandstone, slate, and 

 bituminous shale, have to those seen in England. They met 

 with several lepidodendra, compressed like the Enghsh ones ; 

 also impressions of ferns and reeds. They had not, however, 

 found any beds of coal belonging to this formation, but large 

 deposits of a new bituminous wood-coal, mixed with layers of 

 mineral pitch. This is found in various parts of the river, and 

 on Garry's Island at its mouth, sometimes deposited on the 

 fixed rocks, but never, as far as could be ascertained, under 



