OF THE POLAR SEA. 



375 



and uneven, but they are intersected by valleys, now green ; along 

 their base is a fine sandy beach. From Point Wollaston to our 

 present encampment the coast is skirted with trap cliffs, which have 

 often a columnar form, and are very difficult of access. These cliffs 

 He in ranges parallel to the shore, and the deer that we killed were 

 feeding in small marshy grassy plats that lie in the valleys between 

 them. 



Being detained by the continuance of the gale, on the 2d of 

 August some men were sent out to hunt, and the officers visited the 

 tops of the highest hills, to ascertain the best channels to be pur- 

 sued. The wind abating at ten P. M., we embarked and paddled 

 round the southern end of the island, and continued our course to 

 the south-east. Much doubt at this time prevailed as to the land 

 on the right being the main shore, or merely a chain of islands. 

 The latter opinion was strengthened by the broken appearance of 

 the land, and the extensive view we had up Brown's Channel, 

 (named after my friend Mr. Robert Brown,) the mouth of which we 

 passed, and were in some apprehension of being led away from the 

 main shore ; and, perhaps, after passing through a group of islands, 

 of coming to a traverse greater than we durst venture upon in 

 canoes. On the other hand, the continuous appearance of the land 

 on the north side of the channel, and its tending to the southward, 

 produced a fear that we were entering a deep inlet. 



In this state of doubt we landed often, and endeavoured, from 

 the summits of the highest hills adjoining the shore, to ascertain 

 the true nature of the coast, but in vain, and we continued pad- 

 dling through the channel all night against a fresh breeze, which, at 

 half past four, increased to a violent gale, and compelled us to land. 

 The gale diminished a short time after noon on the 3d, and per- 

 mitted us to re-embark and continue our voyage until four P.M., 

 when it returned with its former violence, and finally obliged us to 



