22 



SECOND VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY 



July' waic * anc * westward, steering towards the land last seen, which again hove 

 v*-y</ in sight at half-past ten A. M., consisting of several islands, though the 

 thickness of the weather might have prevented our seeing any continuous 

 line of coast at the back of them. Being at noon in lat. 64° 07', and longitude, 

 by account, 75° 11', we hauled more to the westward, along the land, as 

 soon as the ice would allow. In passing the westernmost of the islands, 

 all of which are quite low, we carried a depth of from forty-nine to thirty- 

 nine fathoms, at the distance of six or seven miles. In standing out to 

 the southward, the water deepened, though very irregularly, to eighty-four 

 fathoms, at the distance of four leagues from the land, where it was necessary 

 for us to heave to, the fog coming on again thicker than before, and 

 continuing th roughout the night. A number of seals and one sea-horse were 

 seen in the course of the day, as well as some fish jumping out of the water, 

 which the look-out man in the crow's-nest took to be salmon. 

 Tues.31. T} le weather gradually clearing, on the morning of the 31st, we again saw 

 the land to the northward, which still appeared to consist principally of 

 islands, along which our course was now directed. At noon, being in latitude, 

 by account, 64° 01' 30", and long. 75° 48' 50", we had a near and distinct view 

 of several of these, at the back of which there still ran a continuous line of 

 coast. The islands seemed to form several fine inlets, and the tide in the 

 offing was extremely strong, as appeared by the numerous ripplings on the 

 surface of the water, and by our making very little progress for some hours 

 with a favourable breeze. As the fog cleared away from the south-western 

 horizon, we obtained the first glimpse of Salisbury Island in that quarter. In 

 the afternoon, Captain Lyon discovered and made the signal for an Esquimaux 

 oomiak coming off from the shore under sail, accompanied by eight canoes. 

 We tacked to meet them, and lay to for half an hour, for the purpose of adding 

 to our stock of oil. In this boat were sixteen persons, of which number two 

 only were men, an old and a young one, and the rest women and children. 

 In the features, dress, and implements of these people, we saw nothing 

 different from those of the Esquimaux last described ; but they were better 

 behaved than the others, with whom our ships have had more frequent in- 

 tercourse. 



August, We continued, on the 1st of August, to beat to the westward, between 

 Wed 1 o 



' Nottingham Island and the North Shore, the distance between which is 



about four leagues, and the latter fringed with numerous islands. In the 



course of the morning, several canoes and one oomiak came off from the 



