222 Thirty Years 



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 sufficient- 

 ly large to enahle us to cook a portion of the bear, 

 which had a slight fishy taste, hut was deemed very 

 palatable. 



August 10. — We followed up the east border of 

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

 ged into the open sea ; a body of islands to the west- 

 ward concealing the channel by which we had entered. 

 Here our progress was arrested by returning bad wea- 

 ther. 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 

 Beoure harbors, especially near the mouth of Back's 

 River, where there is a sandy bottom in forty fathoms. 

 There also fish are plentiful, and reindeer and ninsk- 

 Oxen may be procured at this season, by spending a 

 little time in hunting. 



On the 3d and 4th <>f August we observed a tall ot 

 more than two feet, in the water during the night. 



There are various irregular and partial currents in the 



inlet, which may be attributed (<> the wind. I have 

 pushed it by the name Bathuret's Inlet, in lion- 



