374 AECTIC VOYAGES. Chap. X. 



the coast, within a crowded range of islands, with 

 very little ice ; the coast covered with vegetation ; 

 the islands rocky and barren ; abundance of drift- 

 wood ; and as none comes down the Copper Mine 

 River, nor down any other, except Mackenzie's River, 

 it was inferred that an easterly current prevailed. 

 The least depth of water, after two days' sailing, 

 was six fathoms, and any ship might pass safely 

 between the islands and the main. After a run of 

 thirty-seven miles they encamped : the coast well 

 covered with vegetation of moderate height, and 

 easy of approach. To two groups of islands the 

 names of Berens and Sir Graham Moore were 

 given. Some muscle-shells were seen here, the 

 only shells met with on the whole coast. On 

 the 22nd the shore became exceedingly rocky and 

 sterile, ending in a steep projecting promontory 

 margined with ice. Another group of islands was 

 named Lawford. 



On the 23rd and 24th, nothing material ; a deer 

 was killed ; the current was running to the eastward 

 at the rate of two miles an hour. 



25th- — Thunder and rain during the night ; the 

 nets supplied only three salmon-trout. For the last 

 two days the tide rose and fell about nine inches. 



26th. — A dreary coast; encamped in an inlet 

 into which much ice had drifted, and one of the 

 canoes got enclosed in it. " That none of this ice 

 survives the summer was evident, from the rapidity 



