380 VOYAGE TO THE 



chap. w hich lasted until noon, when it cleared away, and 



XI 



we had the satisfaction to be joined by the barge. 

 A S' Since our separation, Mr. Elson had kept close 

 along the beach, and ascertained the continuity of 

 the land from the spot where the ship quitted the 

 coast to this place, thereby removing all doubts on 

 that head, and proving that Captain Franklin would 

 not find a passage south of the cape to which I had 

 given his name. The soundings were every where 

 regular, and the natives always friendly, though not 

 numerous. Their habitations were invariably upon 

 low strips of sand bordering upon some brackish 

 lakes, which extended along the coast in such a 

 manner, that in case the ice was driven against it, a 

 good inland navigation might be performed, by trans- 

 porting a small boat across the narrow necks that 

 separate them. 



Drift-wood was every where abundant, though 

 least so on such parts of the coast as had a western 

 aspect, but without any apparent reason for this 

 difference. After supplying the barge with water, 

 we beat to the northward together, but found so 

 strong a south-westerly current running round Icy 

 Cape, that, the ship being light, we could gain no- 

 thing to windward ; and observing that the barge 

 had the advantage of us by keeping in-shore, and 

 that we were only a hindrance to her, I made her 

 signal to close us, and prepared her for the interest- 

 ing service in view. My intentions were no sooner 

 made known than I had urgent applications for the 

 command of the barge from the superior officers of 

 the ship, who, with the ardour natural to their pro- 

 fession when any enterprise is in view, came forward 

 in the readiest manner, and volunteered their ser- 



