211 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



channel, and its tending to the southward, pro- 

 duced a fear that we were entering a deep inlet. 



In this state of doubt we landed often, and 

 endeavoured, from the summits of the highest 

 hills adjoining the shore, to ascertain the true 

 nature of the coast, but in vain, and we continued 

 paddling through the channel all night against a 

 fresh breeze, which, at half past four, increased 

 to a violent gale, and compelled us to land. The 

 gale diminished a short time after noon on the 

 3rd, and permitted us to re-embark and continue 

 our voyage until four P.M., when it returned with 

 its former violence, and finally obliged us to 

 encamp, having come twenty-four miles on a 

 south-east three-quarter south course. 



From the want of drift wood to make a fire we 

 had fasted all day, and were under the necessity, 

 in the evening, of serving out pemmican, which 

 was done with much reluctance, especially as we 

 had some fresh deers' meat remaining. The inlet, 

 when viewed from a high hill adjoining to our 

 encampment, exhibited so many arms, that the 

 course we ought to pursue was more uncertain 

 than ever. It was absolutely necessary, however, 

 to see the end of it before we could determine 

 that it was not a strait. Starting at three A.M., on 

 the 4th, we paddled the whole day through chan- 

 nels, from two to five or six miles wide, all tend- 



