OP THE POLAR SEA. 215 



ing to the southward. In the course of the day's 

 voyage we ascertained, that the land which we 

 had seen on our right hand since yesterday 

 morning, consisted of several large islands, 

 which have been distinguished by the names of 

 Goulburn, EUiott, and Young; but the land 

 on our left preserved its unbroken appear 

 ance, and when we encamped, we were still 

 uncertain whether it was the eastern side of a 

 deep sound or merely a large island. It differed 

 remarkably from the main shore, being very 

 rugged, rocky, and sterile, whereas the outline of 

 the main on the opposite side was even, and its 

 hills covered with a comparatively good sward of 

 grass, and exhibited little naked rock. There 

 was no drift timber, but the shores near the 

 encampment were strewed with small pieces of 

 willow, which indicated our vicinity to the mouth 

 of a river. This fuel enabled us to make a 

 hearty supper off a small deer killed this 

 evening. 



The shallows we passed to-day were covered 

 with shoals of capelin, the angmaggoeiik of the 

 Esquimaux. It was known to Augustus, who 

 informed us that it frequents the coast of Hud 

 son's Bay, and is delicate eating. The course 

 and distance made was, south by east half east, 

 thirty-three miles. 



