406 FURTHER PROGRESS. 



determine. At the point they had counted from 

 thirty to forty old Esquimaux encampments, and 

 many others were seen a little farther off; from 

 whence it may be inferred that the natives re- 

 sort to this place in the winter for the purpose 

 of catching seals. One glimpse only had been 

 caught of the eastern coast, and that showed 

 it set fast with ice, which was said to be jam- 

 med also against the western beach the whole 

 way of their march. Three deer had been 

 shot, but could not be cooked for want of dry 

 fuel. 



August 7th. — After a heavy fall of rain, the 

 sun broke out, and a fresh S. S. E. wind drove 

 the dark masses of cloud back to their dreary 

 quarters in the north. In a little while, also, 

 it effected a separation of the pieces, and a con- 

 sequent general movement in the ice, which now 

 opening a little, gave me reason to hope that we 

 might be able to break ground, and get away at 

 high water. But in consequence of the pressure 

 from without, the ice near the beach had been 

 forced half out of the water; and it cost us incre- 

 dible trouble to move some of the many cumbrous 

 pieces thus partially afloat even a few inches, so 

 as to make a passage for the boat. This task was 

 not achieved before 2 p.m., when the wind being 

 fair, the sails were immediately hoisted, and on 

 she went at the rate of about five knots an hour. 



