OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 85 



We therefore landed to obtain the best view we could, and observed the 1821. 

 water to extend about a mile beyond us, and then to turn to the south- v^s->^ 

 ward, in which direction the land obstructed our further view. As it was 

 plain that no passage could here be found for the ships, which alone it was 

 my present object to discover, I did not choose to wait for the flowing of the 

 tide to enable us further to explore this place, but determined to prosecute 

 our examination of the other parts of the coast without delay. Lieutenant 

 Hoppner subsequently determined the insularity of the land on the south side 

 of this opening by rowing through the passage at high water. There wore 

 here a great number of stones placed in an upright position in every conspi- 

 cuous spot, many of them looking like men at a distance. These marks are 

 generally placed without regard to regularity, but there were here several 

 lines of them about fifty yards in length, the stones being four or five yards 

 apart, and each having a smaller one placed on its top. Having rowed out of 

 the inlet, we landed at six P.M. in a little bay just outside of the last night's 

 sleeping-place, pitching the tents on a fine shingly beach, which was the kind 

 of ground Ave usually looked out for towards the conclusion of the day, as 

 affording the softest bed, consistently with dryness, that nature supplies in this 

 country. Of such a convenience the men were not sorry to avail themselves, 

 having rowed above thirty miles since the morning. Some old Esquimaux 

 habitations were here completely grown over with long rich grass, a number of 

 bones were scattered about near them, and I found a piece of asbestos and part 

 of a pot of lapis ollaris. Near one of the circles of stones were also two walls 

 for resting a canoe upon. 



The boats were launched at daylight on the 8th, and we soon came to a Sat. 8. 

 much more promising opening on the same shore, about a mile wide at the 

 entrance and leading directly to the westward. After rowing four miles in that 

 direction, we arrived at the mouth of a bay from three to five miles wide, out of 

 which there did not appear the least chance of discovering an outlet. As 

 nothing however but rowing round the bay would satisfactorily determine this, 

 we were proceeding to do so, when we observed, in the northern corner, some- 

 thing like a low point overlapping the high land at the back. Towards this 

 spot we steered, as the readiest way of completing the circuit of the bay, and 

 half a mile short of it landed to breakfast. 



In the mean time I sent Mr. Ross to one hill, and ascended another myself, 

 expecting to save the time and trouble of rowing into the nook. I was not 

 a little astonished to find from my own and Mr. Ross's observations, that 



