OF THE POLAR SEA. 



369 



from the water's edge, as to admit of few landing-places even for a 

 canoe. The higher parts attain an elevation of one thousand four 

 hundred or one thousand Rve hundred feet; and the whole is 



entirely destitute of vegetation. 



On the morning of the 27th the ice remaining stationary at the 

 entrance, we went to the bottom of the harbour, and carried the 

 canoes and cargoes about a mile and a half across the point of land 

 that forms the east side of it ; but the ice was not more favourable 

 there for our advancement than at the place we had left. It consisted 

 of small pieces closely packed together by the wind extending along 

 the shore, but leaving a clear passage beyond the chain of islands 

 with which the whole of this coast is girt. Indeed, when we started 

 we had little hope of finding a passage ; and the principal object in 

 moving was, to employ the men, in order to prevent their reflecting 

 upon and discussing the dangers of our situation, which we knew they 

 were too apt to do when leisure permitted. Our observations place 

 the entrance of Detention Harbour in latitude 67° 53' 45", longitude 

 110° 41' 20" W., variation 40° 49' 34" E. It is a secure anchorage, 

 being sheltered from the wind in every direction; the bottom is 



sandy. 



July 28. — As the ice continued in the same state, several of the 

 men were sent out to hunt ; and one of them fired no less than four 

 times at deer, but unfortunately without success. It was satisfactory, 

 however, to ascertain that the country was not destitute of animals. 

 We had the mortification to discover that two of the bags of pern- 

 mican, which was our principal reliance, had become mouldy by wet. 

 Our beef too had been so badly cured, as to be scarcely eatable, this 

 was occasioned by our having been compelled, through haste, to dry 

 it by fire instead of the sun. It was not, however, the quality of 

 our provision that gave us uneasiness, but its diminution, and the 

 utter incapacity to obtain any addition. Seals were the on 



3 B 



