In the Arctic Regions. 217 
time prevailed as to the land on the right being the 
main shore, or merely a chain of islands. The latter 
opinion was strengthened by the broken appearance 
of the land, and the extensive view we had up Brown’s 
Channel, (named after my friend Mr. Robert Brown,) 
the mouth of which we passed, and were in some ap- 
prehension of being led away from the main shore ; 
and, perhaps, after passing through a group of islands, 
of coming to a traverse greater than we durst venture 
upon in canoes. On the other hand, the continuous 
appearance of the land on the north side of the chan- 
nel, and its tending to the southward, produced a fear 
that we were entering a deep inlet. 
In this state of doubt we landed often, and endea- 
vored, from the summits of the higbest hills adjoining 
the shore, to ascertain the true nature of the coast, but 
in vain, and we continued paddling through the chan- 
nel all night against a fresh breeze, which, at half past 
four, increased to a violent gale, and compelled us to 
land. The gale diminished a short time after noon 
on the 3d, and permitted us to re-embark and continue 
our voyage until four P.M., when it returned with its 
former violence, and finally obliged us to encamp, hav- 
mg come twenty-four miles on a south-east three-quar- 
ter south course, 
From the want of drift wood to make a fire we had 
fasted all day, and were under the necessity, in the 
