151 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



The result of our observations at the Hook's 

 encampment was, latitude 66° 45' 11" N., longi- 

 tude 115° 42' 23' W., variation of the 



We embarked at eleven to proceed on our 

 journey. Akaitcho and his brother, the guide, 

 being in the first canoe, and old Keskarrah in the 

 other. We wished to dispense with the further 

 attendance of two guides, and made a proposition 

 that either of them might remain here, butneithe: 

 would relinquish the honour of escorting the Ex 

 pedition to the sea. One of our hunters, how 

 ever, was less eager for this honour, and pre 

 ferred remaining with Green Stockings, Keskar. 

 rah's fascinating daughter. The other four, with 

 the Little Singer, accompanied us, two of them 

 conducting their small canoes in turns, and the 

 rest walking along the beach. 



The river flows over a bed of sand, and winds in 

 an uninterrupted channel of from three quarters 

 to a mile broad, between two ranges of hills, 

 which are pretty even in their outline, and round 

 backed, but having rather steep acclivities. The 

 immediate borders of the stream consisted either 

 of high banks of sand, or steep gravel cliffs ; and 

 sometimes, where the hills receded to a little dis- 

 tance, the intervening space was occupied by 

 nigh sandy ridges. 

 At three P.M., after passing along the foot of 



