62 



SECOND VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 



August natec * * n a \' dV S e space of open water, having land, apparently an island or 

 un*>*> islands, at abont four miles to the northward, beyond which the continued 

 thick weather permitted us to see no horizon. In the evening the rain 

 ceased for the first time since our leaving the ships, and we contrived to 

 make a fire. As the rocks were covered with wet spongy moss, we paved 

 our tent with rough stones, and by means of our fire were enabled to dry 

 some of the andromeda tetragona, which, with the addition of ashes, made 

 a most comfortable bed. 



Sat. 25. " During the night much snow fell, and in the morning we found the rocks 

 covered with it. At five A.M., we proceeded over the hills to the southward. 

 In an hour's walk in that direction, we arrived at a small bay about a mile in 

 extent, in which some very heavy ice was lying aground. A bluff point on 

 the south side terminated the small inlet, which here opens into the larger 

 strait. We coasted the large strait westerly, as nearly as the nature of the shore 

 would permit, in a strait line, and arrived at Cape Montagu a little before nine 

 A.M. On the shore and the rocks which overhang it were several remains 

 of Esquimaux settlements, many of which had soot still on their fire-places. 

 We also saw several very perfect little store-rooms for their provisions, con- 

 structed of rough stones, and about six feet by three in extent. Some of the 

 ground-plans of the huts differed from those seen in Repulse Bay, and one in 

 particular was remarkable, being thus formed : 



" The extent was about twenty-five feet by fifteen, and at either end the 

 ground was a little raised as if for sleeping-places. We also passed a singular 

 assemblage of flat stones, set up edgeways, each about three yards apart, and 

 extending at least for five hundred yards, down to a small lake situated in 

 a grassy valley. 



