438 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. XL 



encamped ; and here a spruce tree was seen of the 

 unusual circumference of seven feet at four feet 

 from the ground. On the following day, in lat. 69°, 

 the Eastern Channel made a turn round the point of 

 the Reindeer Hills, which here terminated ; and here 

 also was a small island possessing, according to 

 Mackenzie, a " sacred character," and being still a 

 burial-place of the Esquimaux, it was called by 

 Richardson the " Sacred Island." Here also the 

 channel terminated, by several islands dividing it 

 into as many branches. On some of them, and on 

 various parts of the coast, the bituminous shale was 

 noticed to be on fire ; and in some parts the cliffs 

 appeared as if they had fallen down owing to the 

 consumption of the combustible strata, and termi- 

 nated in a green and sloping bank. The attraction 

 of oxygen by the sulphur causes the combustion, 

 which, as the Doctor observes, is made more lively 

 by the presence of bitumen. 



They now steered along the main shore, and 

 speedily fell in with a tribe of Esquimaux, who 

 used threatening language and gestures, when 

 Ooligbuck said they were bad people, " entreated 

 me to embark, took me on his back, and carried 

 me on board." As the conduct of these people 

 was very similar to that which Franklin met with, 

 and not differing materially from those inhabiting 

 the eastern coast of Melville Peninsula, it will not 

 be necessary to notice the numerous parties of these 



