70 SECOND VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 



1821. j^iiy increased as wc approached the narrows, where it was running full six 

 vrf-y"^ miles an hour in the middle of the stream, it being now about the height of 

 the springs. M'c landed for a short time on Point Cheyne to obtain sights 

 for the clirouomcter, and some essential angles for the survey ; the Ijoat's 

 crew in the mean time warming and amusing themselves in hunting an 

 ermine which, by the quickness of its turning and the shelter aflbrded by 

 the stones, escaped from them at last. Having placed a flag on this point, as 

 a mark for the ships, no time was lost in setting out for the cove which, 

 after taking all the soundings and marks which the strength of the tide would 

 permit, wc reached at a quarter before ten A.M. I found that Captain Lyon 

 had returned on board the preceding evening, having accomplished his 

 object in a shorter time than was expected. Captain Lyon's account of his 

 excuj'sion is here subjoined : 



" Separating from Captain Parry at Point Cheyne, Mr. Bushnan and myself 

 proceeded to the examination of the sea to the northward of the little channel 

 before discovered, at which we arrived in three hours from the time of our 

 leaving the ships; and, on reaching the bar already mentioned, we saw the 

 bottom all across; it apj)eared rocky, and some large iish were swimming 

 over it, Avhich our people supposed to be salmon. The breadth, it being 

 dead low water, we estimated at one cable's length, and the depth wc found to 

 be twenty-four feet. As we traced the northern part of the inlet we found 

 a long rolling ground-swell setting in; it broke occasionally, and caused 

 the boat to i)itch nearly bows under. This was remarkable, as being the 

 iirst sea of the kind wc had met with since leaving the Atlantic, and therefore 

 excited considerable hope that we should lind some outlet to the northward. 

 The depth of water was here thirteen fathoms. 



" In consequence of our inability to round the extreme point, we landed just 

 within it, and from the unaccommodating form of the rocks, were under the 

 necessity of carrying the boat on our backs above three hundred yards be- 

 fore wc could place her in safety. On the north side of the point we found a 

 regularly shelving beach, covered with rounded shingle, on which a heavy 

 surf was breaking, the wind being strong from the northward. We now saw 

 the land all round us, forming an inunense bay, and took the requisite bear- 

 ings of remarkable points. We observed that, notwithstanding the swell 

 I have mentioned, there was no perceptible stream of tide. The night was 



