190 JOURNEY TO THE SHOUES 



nor of the Hudson's Bay Company ; and the east- 

 ernmost, " Sir Graham Moore's Islands." At 

 the spot where we landed some muscle- shells 

 and a single piece of sea-weed lay on the beach ; 

 this was the only spot on the coast where we 

 saw shells. We were rejoiced to find the beach 

 strewed with abundance of small drift-wood, none 

 of it recent. 



It may be remarked that the Copper-Mine 

 River does not bring down any drift-wood ; nor 

 does any other known stream, except Mackenzie's 

 River; hence, from its appearance on this part 

 of the coast, an easterly current may be inferred. 

 Tills evening we were all in high glee at the pro- 

 gress we had made ; the disappearance of the 

 ice, and the continuance of the land in an eastern 

 direction, and our future prospects formed an 

 enlivening subject of conversation. The thermo- 

 meter varied during the day between 43° and 45°. 

 Tlie fishing nets were set, but produced nothing. 

 On the 22d we embarked at four A.M., and 

 having the benefit of a light breeze continued our 

 voyage along the coast, under sail, until eleven, 

 when we halted to breakfast, and to obtain the 

 latitude. The coast up to this point presented 

 the same general appearance as yesterday, 

 namely, a gravelly or sandy beach, skirted by 

 green plains ; but as we proceeded, the shore 



