458 Thirty Years 



gravel of the beach. They consisted of greenstone, 

 sandstone, and limestone ; the first mentioned being 

 the largest, and the last the most numerous. Having 

 eon several fish leaping in the river, a net was set 

 xcross its mouth, though without success, owing to 

 :he meshes being too large. Two men were des- 

 patched to examine the state of the ice ; and on their 

 return from a walk of several miles, they reported 

 hat, with the exception of a small spot close to the 

 jeach, it was quite compact. They had observed, 

 ibout two miles from the encampment, stumps of 

 Irift wood fixed in the ground at certain distances, 

 ■xtending from the coast across the plain towards the 

 locky Mountains, in the direction of two piles of 

 tones, which were erected on the top of the latter. 

 Ne were at a loss to conjecture what motive the Es- 

 quimaux could have had for taking so much trouble, 

 unless these posts were intended to serve as decoys for 

 the reindeer. The party assembled at divine service 

 n the evening, as had been our practice every Sunday. 

 • v On the morning of the 24th we were able to 

 nake a further advance of two miles and three-quar- 

 ers, by forcing the boats between the masses of ice, 

 bS far as the debouche of another rivulet. Under any 

 >ther circumstance than that of being beset by ice, 

 he beautifully calm and clear weather we then had 

 would have been delightful ; but as our hope of being 



