OF THE POLAR SEA. 219 



ChedysammJ which is common on these shores, 

 and some berries. There was also intermixed 

 with these substances a small quantity of grass. 



We got again into the main inlet, and paddled 

 along its eastern shore until forty minutes after 

 eight A.M., when we encamped in a small cove. 

 We found a single log of drift wood ; it was pine, 

 and sufficiently large to enable us to cook a por- 

 tion of the bear, which had a sHght fishy taste, 

 but was deemed very palatable. 



August 10. — We followed up the east border 

 of the inlet about twenty-four miles, and at length 

 emerged into the open sea ; a body of islands to 

 the westward concealing the channel by which 

 we had entered. Here our progress was arrested 

 by returning bad weather. We killed a bear 

 and its young cub of this year, on the beach near 

 to our encampment. We heartily congratulated 

 ourselves at having arrived at the eastern entrance 

 of this inlet, which had cost us nine invaluable 

 days in exploring. It contains several secure 

 harbours, especially near the mouth of Back's 

 River, where there is a sandy bottom in forty 

 fathoms. There also fish are plentiful, and rein- 

 deer and musk-oxen may be procured at this sea- 

 son, by spending a little time in hunting. 



On the 3d and 4th of August we observed a 

 fall of more than tWo feet in the water during the 



