446 Thirty Years 
— 
our communication with the Jand. As we could not 
obtain, from our present station, any satisfactory view 
of the state of the ice to the westward, I despatched 
Duncan and Augustus to take a survey of it from 
Point Catton, while Lieutenant Back and I made 
some astronomical observations. They returned after 
an absence of two hours, and reported that there was 
water near Herschel Island, and a channel in the 
offing that appeared to lead to it. We, therefore, 
embarked ; and by pushing the boats between the 
masses that lay aground, for some distance, we suc- 
ceeded in reaching open water at the entrance of the 
strait which lies between the island and the main, and 
through which the loose pieces of ice were driving fast 
to the westward. Having now the benefit of a strong 
favorable breeze, we were enabled to keep clear of 
them, and made good progress. Arriving opposite 
the §. H. end of Herschel Island, we perceived a large 
herd of reindeer just taking the water, and on ap- 
proaching the shore to get within shot, discovered 
three Esquimaux in pursuit, These men stood gazing 
at the boats for some minutes, and after a short con- 
sultation, we observed them to change the heads of 
their arrows, and prepare their bows. They then 
walked along the south shore, parallel to our course, 
for the purpose, as we soon found, of rejoining their 
wives. We reached the place at which the ladies 
