WOLLASTON LAND SEEN. 471 



there were from four to five fathoms water, passed suddenly from muddy 

 water " into a green sea, in which," says the commander, " we had no 

 bottom with the land line." Proceeding south-east from Cape Bathurst, 

 Richardson observed that the crest of the high bank rose to the height of 

 about two hundred and fifty feet. These high banks are continued along the 

 shore from Cape Bathurst to the bottom of Franklin Bay, where they recede 

 from the coast to form the base of an even-backed line of hills of from four 

 to five hundred feet high, called the Melville Range. Cape Parry was 

 reached on the 13th, and on Cocked-hat Point a case of pemmican, with a 

 letter of instructions for the use and information of the missing expedition, 

 were deposited on the 14th. Dr Rae, that " mighty hunter," killed a roe 

 reindeer in excellent condition on the morning of the 17th, and rejoiced the 

 hearts of his comrades with fresh steaks for breakfast. Again on the 19th 

 Rae brought in two fine reindeer. Several seals were also killed ; but as 

 none of the men would touch the dark flesh of the seals so long as venison 

 could be had, Richardson gave instructions that no more seals should be 

 shot. On the 20th Rae killed and brought in a fine buck reindeer, and the fre- 

 quency with which these splendid animals were knocked over constrains Rich- 

 ardson to exclaim, that " in this quarter a skilful hunter like Mr Rae could 

 supply the whole party with venison without any loss of time." On the 21st, 

 the expedition having then passed to the eastward of Hoppner River, the 

 explorers obtained their first view of the cheerless shores of WoUaston Land, 

 the summits as well as the ravines of which were covered with snow. Could 

 the explorers only reach these white shores gleaming away on the north, 

 something might yet be done, even in this rapidly-waning summer season, 

 to throw light upon the fate of the lost ships ! But the channel between the 

 main and WoUaston Land was filled with ice, and this land of promise was 

 unapproachable. 



On the 23d the weather darkened threateningly, a haze closed over the 

 boats, heavy showers fell, and a water-spout, herald of a coming storm, was 

 seen on shore. At five p.m. the storm came on, " and," says Richardson, 

 " we were compelled to reduce our canvas to the goose-wing of the mainsail, 

 under which we scudded for an hour, until, entering among large masses of 

 ice, about two miles from Point Cockburn, we found shelter under some 

 pieces that had grounded. The shore was too flat to admit of our bring- 

 ing the boats near enough to encamp; the ice-cold sea-water chilled the 

 men as they waded to and fro ; there was no drift timber on the beach ; 

 and we passed a cold and cheerless night in the boats, the wind being too 

 strong to admit of our raising any kind of shelter. I afterwards learned," 

 continues Richardson, " that this storm began at Fort Simpson at six a.m. 

 on the 23d, or, making allowance for the difference of longitude, about thir- 

 teen hours and a half later. It commenced on the Mackenzie by the wind 



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