458 Thirty Years 
gravel of the beach. They consisted of greenstone, 
sandstone, and limestone ; the first mentioned being 
the largest, and the last the most numerous, Having 
seen several fish leaping in the river, a net was set 
across its mouth, though without success, owing to 
the meshes being too large. Two men were des- 
patched to examine the state of the ice ; and on their 
return from a walk of several miles, they reported 
that, with the exception of a small spot close to the 
beach, it was quite compact. They had observed, 
about two miles from the encampment, stumps of 
drift wood fixed in the ground at certain distances, 
extending from the coast across the plain towards the 
Rocky Mountains, in the direction of two piles of 
stones, which were erected on the top of the latter. 
We were at a loss to conjecture what motive the Hs- 
quimaux could have had for taking so much trouble, 
unless these posts were intended to serve as decoys for 
the reindeer. The party assembled at divine service 
in the evening, as had been our practice every Sunday. 
Monday Qn the morning of the 24th we were able to 
make a further advance of two miles and three-quar- 
ters, by forcing the boats between the masses of ice, 
as far as the debouche of another rivulet. Under any 
other circumstance than that of being beset by ice, 
the beautifully calm and clear weather we then had 
would have been delightful ; but as our hope of being 
