446 Thirty Years 



our communication with the land. As we could not 

 obtain, from our present station, any satisfactory view 

 of the state of the ice to the westward, I despatched 

 Duncan and Augustus to take a survey of it from 

 Point Cat ton, while Lieutenant Back and I made 

 some astronomical observations. They returned after 

 an absence of two hours, and reported that there was 

 water near Herschel Island, and a channel in the 

 offing that appeared to lead to it. We, therefore, 

 embarked ; and by pushing the boats between the 

 masses that lay aground, for some distance, we suc- 

 ceeded in reaching open water at the entrance of the 

 strait which lies between the island and the main, and 

 through which the loose pieces of ice were driving fast 

 to the westward. Having now the benefit of a strong 

 favorable breeze, we were enabled to keep clear of 

 them, and made good progress. Arriving opposite 

 the S. E. end of Herschel Island, we perceived a large 

 herd of reindeer just taking the water, and on ap- 

 proaching the shore to get within shot, discovered 

 three Esquimaux in pursuit. These men stood gazing 

 at the boats for some minutes, and after a short con- 

 sultation, we observed them to change the heads of 

 their arrows, and prepare their bows. They then 

 walked along the south shore, parallel to our course, 

 for the purpose, as we soon found, of rejoining their 

 wives. We reached the place at which the ladies 



