In the Arctic Regions. 451 
\ 
sale; and although the whole quantity did not 
amount to a deer, we had to purchase it in small 
pieces, This practice of dividing the meat among 
the party, we found to prevail throughout the voy- 
age ; and they avowed as their reason for it, the de- 
sire that every one might obtain a share of the good 
things we distributed. One of the men drew on the 
sand a sketch of the coast to the westward, as far as 
* he was acquainted with it; from which it appeared 
that there was a line of reefs in front of the coast the 
whole way ; the water being deep on the outside of 
them, but on the inside too shallow even for their 
oomiacks to float. We subsequently found that his 
knowledge of the coast did not extend beyond a few 
days’ march. 
The atmosphere becoming more clear about two 
Pp. M., we again embarked, and endeavored to get to 
seaward. The boats, however, soon ‘grounded ; and 
finding all our attempts to push through any of the 
channels between the reefs ineffectual, we pulled back 
close to Herschel Island. Following, then, the course 
of the drift ice, we passed near to its south-west 
point, which was found to be the only deep passage 
through the strait. We afterwards entered into a 
fine sheet of open water, the main body of the ice 
being about half a mile to seaward, and only a few 
bergs lying aground in the direction of our course. 
