Iii the Arctic Regions. 451 



Bale ; and although the whole quantity did not 

 amoanl to a deer, we had to purchase it in small 

 pieces. This practice of dividing the meat among 



the party, we found to prevail throughout the voy- 

 ; ami they avowed as their reason for it, the de- 

 sire that every one might obtain a share of the good 

 things we distributed. One of the men drew on the 

 Band a Bketch of the coast to the westward, as far as 

 he was acquainted with it; from which it appeared 

 that there was a line of reefs in front of the coasl the 

 whole way ; the water being deep on the outside of 

 them, but on the inside too shallow even for their 

 oomiacks to float. We subsequently found that his 

 knowledge of the coast did not extend beyond a few 

 days' march. 



The atmosphere becoming more clear about two 

 p. m., we again embarked, and endeavored to get to 

 seaward. The boats, however, soon grounded ; and 

 finding all our attempts to push through any of the 

 channels between the reel's ineffectual, we polled hack 

 close to Eerschel Island. Following, then, the course 

 of tin- drift iee, we passed near to its south-wesl 

 point, which was found to be the only deep passage 

 through the strait. We afterwards entered into a 

 fine sheet of open water, the main body of the ire 

 being about half a mile to seaward, and only a tew 

 bergs lving aground in the direction of our course. 



