122 MR. EAE'S EXPEDITION. July, 



net was set in one of the eddies, and before the men had 

 finished arranging it, seven fine salmon and two white fish 

 were caught, and we afterwards obtained a supply for 

 several days' consumption. 



" On the 14th we entered the sea, and found a narrow 

 and very shallow channel along the shore of Richardson 

 Bay, until we came to its north side, where the ice lay 

 against the rocks. Here the latitude 67° 51' 19" N. was 

 observed ; and two azimuths of the sun, the one on the 

 meridian and the other when on the prime vertical, gave 

 variation 57° 04/ and 56° 25' E. Whilst encamped at this 

 place, we were visited by seven Eskimos, one of whom I 

 at once recognised as the active, intelligent man who had 

 afforded Sir John Richardson's party such efficient assist- 

 ance last season, when crossing the river at the head of 

 Back's Inlet. On inquiry I learnt that they had been 

 well supplied with provisions in the early part of winter 

 and in spring; but that in the interval they had nearly 

 starved, owing to the scarcity of seals, having had to 

 subsist for some time on the skins of the larger species 

 of these animals, which they had reserved for making 

 boots. In the winter they had communicated, either 

 directly or indirectly, with the natives of Wollaston Land, 

 none of whom had ever seen whites, large boats, or ships. 

 They were all made happy by some small presents, and a 

 supply of fish, which they ate raw, and appeared to relish 

 much. They left us near midnight, promising to return 

 next day with some boots and shoes for sale. 



" On the 16th, by making a number of portages over the 

 ice, we rounded Point Mackenzie and entered Back's 

 Inlet, which was partially open. Having a fine breeze 

 from the east, we set sail and soon ran to its head, when 

 Ave entered Rae River (discovered and named by Sir John 



