182 THE ARCTIC PRAIRIES 



an inspiring guide. One afternoon he did something 

 that made a final wreck of my confidence. A thunder- 

 storm was rumbling in the far east. Black clouds 

 began travelling toward us; with a line of dark and 

 troubled waters below, the faint breeze changed around 



Opt-sing-gree-ay Island Cliff on N. E. end of Et-then Island 



and became a squall. Weeso looked scared and beck- 

 oned to Freesay, who came and took the helm. Noth- 

 ing happened. 



We were now running along the north shore of Et- 

 then, where are to be seen the wonderful 1,200-foot 

 cliffs described and figured by Captain George Back in 

 1834. They are glorious ramparts, wonderful in size 

 and in colour, marvellous in their geological display. 



Flying, and evidently nesting among the dizzy tow- 

 ers, were a few Barn-swallows and Phcebe-birds. 



This cliff is repeated on Oot-sing-gree-ay, the next 

 island, but there it is not on the water's edge. It gives 

 a wonderful echo which the Indians (not to mention 

 myself) played with, in childish fashion. 



On Sunday, 21 July, we made a new record, 6 meals 

 and 20 miles. 



On July 22 we made only 7 meals and 11 miles and 

 camped in the narrows Tal-thel-lay. These are a 

 quarter of a mile wide and have a strong current run- 



