1826. 



PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 455 



aurora borealis, remarkable for its masses of bright chap. 



o XII. 



light. It extended from N. E. to W., and at one ' — r^f 

 time formed three arches. As we were taking our S 

 departure we were visited by a baidar, from which 

 we procured some fine fresh salmon and trout. The 

 coxswain of this boat wore unusually large labrets, 

 consisting of blue glass beads fixed upon circular 

 pieces of ivory, a full inch in diameter. He drew 

 us a chart of Hotham Inlet, which resembled one 

 that had been traced upon the beach by some na- 

 tives the day before ; both of which represented it 

 as an arm of the sea in the form of an hour-glass, 

 which was not far from the truth. The Esquimaux 

 seem to have a natural talent for such delineations ; 

 and though their outlines may serve no essential 

 purpose of navigation, they are still useful in point- 

 ing out the nature of a place that has not been visit- 

 ed ; an information which may sometimes save a 

 useless journey. It is, however, to be observed, 

 that not unfrequently they appear to trace the route 

 which a boat can pursue, rather than the indenta- 

 tions of the coast, by which rivers and bays not fre- 

 quented would be overlooked. Such charts are fur- 

 ther useful in marking the dwellings and fishing 

 stations of the natives. 



From hence we bore away to examine Hotham 

 Inlet, and found it so encumbered with shoals that 

 it was necessary to run seven miles off the land to 

 avoid striking upon them ; it had but one small 

 entrance, so very narrow and intricate, that the 

 boats grounded repeatedly in pursuing it. In the 

 middle of the channel there were only five feet 

 water at half-flood ; and the tide ebbed so strong 

 through it, that the boat could not stem it ; and as 



