22S JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



try destitute of fuel. Our stock of provision was 

 now reduced to a quantity of pemmican only suf- 

 ficient for three days' consumption, and the 

 prospect of increasing it was not encouraging, 

 for though rein-deer were seen, they could not be 

 easily approached on the level shores we were 

 now coasting, besides it was to be apprehended 

 they would soon migrate to the south. It was 

 evident that the time spent in exploring the Arctic 

 and Melville Sounds, and Bathurst's Inlet, had 

 precluded the hope of reaching Repulse Bay, 

 which at the outset of the voyage we had fondly 

 cherished; and it was equally obvious that as 

 our distance from any of the trading establish- 

 ments would increase as we proceeded, the hazard- 

 ous traverse across the barren grounds, which we 

 should have to make, if compelled to abandon 

 the canoes upon any part of the coast, would be- 

 come greater. 



I this evening communicated to the officers my 

 sentiments on these points, as well as respecting 

 our return, and was happy to find that their 

 opinions coincided with my own. We were all 

 convinced of the necessity of putting a speedy 

 termination to our advance, as the hope which we 

 had cherished of meeting the Esquimaux and 

 procuring provision from them, could now scarcely 

 be entertained; but yet Ave were desirous of 



