OF THE POLAR SEA. 



377 



After paddling twelve miles in the morning of the 5th, we had 

 the mortification to find the inlet terminated by a river ; the size of 

 which we could not ascertain, as the entrance was blocked by shoals. 

 Its mouth lies in lat. 66° 30' N., long. 107° 53' W. I have named 

 this stream Back, as a mark of my friendship for my associate*. We 



somewhat consoled for the loss of time in exploring this inlet, 



were 



* 



by the success of Junius in killing a musk-ox, the first we had seen 

 on the coast ; and afterwards by the acquisition of the flesh of a bear, 

 that was shot as we were returning up the eastern side in the evening. 

 The latter proved to be a female, in very excellent condition ; and 

 our Canadian voyagers, whose appetite for fat meat is insatiable, 



were delighted. 



We encamped on the shores of a sandy bay, and set the nets ; 

 and finding a quantity of dried willows on the beach, we were 

 enabled to cook the bear's flesh, which was superior to any meat we 

 had tasted on the coast. The water fell two feet at this place during 

 the night. Our nets produced a great variety of fish, namely, a 

 salmon-trout, some round fish, tittameg, bleak, star-fish, several 

 herrings, and a flat fish resembling plaice, but covered on the back 



with horny excrescences. 



On the 6th we were detained in the encampment by stormy 

 weather until five P.M., when we embarked and paddled along the 

 northern shore of the inlet ; the weather still continuing foggy, but 

 the wind moderate. Observing on the beach a she bear with three 

 young ones, we landed a party to attack them ; but, being approached 

 without due caution, they took the alarm and scaled a precipitous 

 rocky hill, with a rapidity that baffled all pursuit. At eight o'clock, 

 the fog changing into rain, we encamped. Many seals were seen 

 to-day, but as they kept in deep water we did not fire at them. 



On August 7th the atmosphere was charged with fog and rain all 



* From subsequent conversation with the Copper Indians, we were inclined to suppose 

 this may be the Thlueetessy, described by Black-meat, mentioned in a former part of the 



narrative. 



3 C 



