REMOVAL OF THE ESQUIMAUX. 431 



and it was with difficulty we could keep the tent 



up at all. 



August 21. — The wind gave place to a dark 

 wet fog, so thick that we were barely able to 

 start by creeping along the land towards the 

 mouth of the river ; and after getting frequently 

 on shore upon the shoals at its mouth, we entered 

 it in the afternoon amidst heavy rain, which, 

 however, some of the people scarcely noticed in 

 their delight at having fairly left the ice : one, 

 indeed, as soon as the sea was shut out from view, 

 tossed up his cap for joy. The western range 

 of mountains, extending to Point Richardson, 

 was honoured by the name of her Most Gracious 

 Majesty; others which were visible in the 

 evening, after Francis Chan trey, Esq. ; and the 

 eastern range was distinguished after her Royal 

 Highness the Duchess of Kent. The night was 

 again rainy, and after a long detention we 

 reached the lower fall, where in our descent we 

 had found the Esquimaux. They had disap- 

 peared, which I much regretted, not only be- 

 cause my pockets were laden with presents for 

 them, but because I wanted to make some more 

 sketches, and to show them the survey of the 

 coast as far as we had been, and obtain, if pos- 

 sible, some further information. The water in 

 the river had fallen three feet, and thereby 

 afforded a facility for launching the boat over a 



