426 Thirty Years 



in every other part the sea appeared as firmly frozen 

 as in winter ; and even close to our encampment the 

 mass.es of ice were piled up to the height of thirty 

 feet. Discouraging as was this prospect, we had the 

 consolation to know that our store of provision was 

 sufficiently ample to allow of a few days' detention. 



The coast in this part consists of black earth, un- 

 mixed with stones of any kind, and its general eleva- 

 tion is from sixty to eighty feet, though in some 

 places it swells into hills of two hundred and fifty 

 feet. A level plain, abounding in small lakes, extends 

 from the top of these banks to the base of a line of 

 hills which lie in front of the Rocky Mountains. The 

 plain was clothed with grass and plants, then in flower, 

 specimens of which were collected. We recognized in 

 the nearest range of the Rocky Mountains; which I 

 have named alter my much-esteemed companion Dr. 

 Richardson, the Fitton and Cupula Mountains, which 

 we had seen from Garry Island at the distance of 

 sixty miles. Few patches of snow wen; visible on any 

 part of the range. 



Saving obtained observations for longitude and va- 

 riation] we retired to bed about eight a. m., but had 

 only just fallen asleep when we were roused by the 

 men on guard calling out that a party of Esquimaux 

 were close to the tents ; ami, on going out, we found 

 the who].- of our party under arms. Three Esqui- 



