OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE, 83 



we found that Mr. Ross had hauled the boats up and pitched the tents for ]^^^' 

 the night. A number of deer were seen but they were very wild ; a hare 



or two however and some ptarmigan were procured for our suppers. It Avas 

 high water by the shore at thirty minutes past six P.M., but no stream of 

 tide was perceptible. 



The tents were struck at thirty minutes past three A.M., on the 7th, and Frid. 7. 

 our course directed up the inlet, the weather being calm and tolerably clear. 

 At three miles and a quarter we passed on our starboard hand a point of 

 land which, from the bright colour of the rocks, composed chiefly of feldspar, 

 obtained the name of Red Point. 



At a quarter past four, when we knew the flood-tide must be running, the 

 current Avas found to set half a knot to the northward, and at seven it was 

 going rather more slowly in the same direction. As far as indications went, 

 this seemed but little encouragement; but as our business was to explore and 

 not to speculate, we continued our progress. After passing Red Point we 

 arrived at a wider part of the inlet, near which is an islet of this remark- 

 able form. 





/ 



exactly resembling, at a little distance, the roof of a house just shewing itself 

 above the water, some large stones set upright on the top, (probably by the 

 Esquimaux,) appearing like so many chimneys. It consists entirely of small 

 stones and sand intermixed, and has more the appearance of having been 

 placed there by art than by nature. Just beyond this islet, and after rounding 

 a low sandy point on the left, the inlet turns much more to the westward and 

 becomes narrower, with frequent shoals occupying in some places the greater 

 part of the channel. Mr. Ross and I ascended the nearest hifl, and saw the 

 inlet still extending to the N.W., though it became narrower than before and 

 apparently much more shoal. The rein-deer were here very numerous on the 

 higher parts of the land ; m c saw above forty in a walk of two or three 

 miles, and our people met with several more. The vegetation was abundant, 

 consisting chiefly of short thick grass, moss, the androtneda ittragona and ledum 

 palustre, a sweet smelling plant which here grew very luxuriantly. Much 

 of the ground was wet and swampy, small lakes occurring in almost every 



M 2 



