416 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. XI. 



was so great, that Franklin was inclined to think 

 they had reached the sea; and in this he was 

 almost confirmed on reaching the shore of Ellice 

 Island, where they "were rejoiced at the sea-like 

 appearance to the northward." " This point was 

 observed to be in lat. 69° 14', long. 135° 57', and 

 forms the north-eastern entrance of the main chan- 

 nel of the Mackenzie River, which from Slave Lake 

 to this point is one thousand and forty-five miles, 

 according to our survey.' 3 On reaching Whale 

 Island, he was satisfied that, like Mackenzie, he had 

 reached the sea ; but on tasting the water found it 

 to be perfectly fresh ; still he was persuaded he had 

 reached the sea, and observing an island to the 

 northward looking blue by its distance, the boat 

 was directed towards it. About midway they were 

 caught by a strong contrary wind, against which 

 the crew contended for fiye hours, the waves break- 

 ing into the boat; the sails were set, which, with a 

 change in the wind, enabled them in the course of 

 another hour to fetch into smoother water, under 

 the lee of the island. "We then pulled across a 

 line of strong ripple which marked the termination 

 of the fresh water, that on the seaward side being 

 brackish, and in the further progress of three miles 

 to the island we had the indescribable pleasure of 

 finding the water decidedly salt." This is per- 

 haps noticed in allusion to Mackenzie having been 

 blamed for not ascertaining that the water was salt 



