FIRST VIEW OF THE COAST. 389 



we encamped, and appointed a watch for the 

 night. 



By 4 a.m., July 29th, we were afloat ; but the 

 weather was cloudy and cold, with a northerly 

 breeze, and the thermometer at 41J°. At sun- 

 rise a fog began to spread, and soon became 

 so dense that we found ourselves in the midst 

 of several rapids before we were in the least 

 aware of their presence ; and subsequently the 

 breeze freshened, and the fog increased so much, 

 that, unable to see distinctly, we were obliged 

 to lie by until it should clear. In the meantime 

 the sun occasionally broke through the clouds, 

 and enabled me to obtain observations, the 

 results of which were, latitude 67 7' 31" N., 

 longitude 94° 39' 45" W. ; and the variation by 

 the sun's bearing with Rater's compass, the one 

 commonly used, 8° 30' W. * 



The afternoon permitted us to proceed ; and 

 it was while threading our way between some 

 sand-banks, with a strong current, that we first 

 caught sight of a majestic headland in the extreme 

 distance to the north, which had a coast-like 

 appearance. This important promontory was 

 subsequently honoured by receiving the name of 

 Her Royal Highness the Princess Victoria. The 

 sand-banks also now became broken into cliffs, 



* See Appendix. 



c c 3 



