OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 



61 



point of the island, (which I named after Mr. Busiinan,) and finding tole- ,821 - 

 rably open water, we then crossed the strait in the direction of a high bluff, 

 which we had seen from Bushnan's Island. 



"About half way across the strait we passed a rocky island, of about three 

 quarters of a mile in extent. On rounding a small bluff, on which were great 

 numbers of the larus argentatus and their young, we saw some deer feeding ; 

 and a little farther on, a she-bear and her cub ran close to the water, appa- 

 rently watching us. I named the place, Bear Island. Crossing the inlet, 

 (whose breadth at this part may be estimated at three miles,) we landed on 

 a steep point, up which we immediately hauled the boat. From this point, 

 which I called Cape Montagu, I observed the strait still to trend to the 

 eastward, and the north side appeared bounded by land at about seven 

 miles. We left the boat and proceeded to a high and remarkable hill called 

 Brooks's Bluff, which was but indistinctly seen, owing to the continued and 

 heavy rain. We had scarcely arrived on the summit, when a very heavy 

 snow storm set in and in a short time covered the mountain, and limited our 

 sight to a few yards. We therefore took a hasty breakfast, and after some 

 difficulty and no little danger again descended. 



"At nine A.M., the weather cleared up a little and the snow ceased, but 

 rain continued to fall. From Brooks's Bluff a valley runs to the eastward, 

 and is nearly occupied by a lake of about three miles in circumference. 

 Along the bank of this lake we pursued our route and, on leaving it, 

 passed many smaller ones and crossed several valleys. At about an hour 

 before noon, after having passed several rocky and barren hills of granite 

 which bounded and intersected the valleys, we arrived unexpectedly on a 

 high cliff, which looked down to a small strait at its foot, trending N.b.W. 

 and S.b.E., and at this part about a good mile in breadth. Our farther pro- 

 gress eastward being now stopped, I decided on following the strait to the 

 northward as far as the day would permit. Mr. Bushnan and one man accom- 

 panied me, and the other three remained behind to pitch the tent and endea- 

 vour to light a fire of moss. 



" In our walk we passed the remains of many Esquimaux habitations, but 

 none of them appeared to have been inhabited for many years. We also pro- 

 cured a mountain marmot, (arctomys alpina,) which we chased under a large 

 stone, but were unable to take alive. After having walked about six miles from 

 our first setting out, we arrived at the end of this little strait, which termi- 



