OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 



87 



several Esquimaux circles of stones. On ascending the higher part of the ^21. 

 island the land about us appeared to consist of islands in almost every di- ^v-^, 

 rection. The main branch of the inlet ran nearly due north, and afterwards 

 seemed to turn westward, which was enough to determine our course on the 

 following morning. We saw here several hares, ptarmigans and ducks, and 

 one or two ravens. The island is composed of gneiss rock traversed in 

 several places by rich veins of pale rose quartz, of which substance large 

 lumps were here and there lying on the surface. I also noticed many round- 

 ish masses of quartz in a granular and decomposed state, easily falling to 

 pieces on being handled. 



The tents were struck at daylight on the 9th'; and after leaving a note Sun. 9 

 under a pile of stones at the appointed place, to apprize Mr. Sherer in what 

 direction we should be found, we rowed to the northward. The wind having 

 however got round to that quarter in the course of the night, and continuing 

 to blow fresh, we did not reach the first point of land till nine A.M., by which 

 time the people's clothes were so thoroughly drenched by the sea that I de- 

 termined to remain here till noon to dry them, and to obtain the requisite 

 observations. The comfort of a dry atmosphere, bright sunshine, and a warm 

 breakfast, under these circumstances and in this climate, can perhaps scarcely 

 be imagined by those who have not experienced it. 



The latitude of this point, which stands on a small island, is 66° 57' 04", and 

 its longitude, by chronometers, 84° 52' 17". The tide was ebbing by the shore 

 from nine A.M. till noon, when we left the point, and on trying the current 

 soon after it was found to be setting E.S.E. half a mile an hour. Our progress 

 now became more and more interesting as we advanced to the north-westward, 

 there being every appearance of broken land in that direction. The inlet was 

 here from two to four miles in breadth, and in most parts sufficiently deep for 

 the passage of ships ; so that notwithstanding the direction of the flood-tide 

 which evidently came from the southward, we could not but entertain very 

 sanguine hopes of here finding a continued passage to the westward. This 

 hope received additional encouragement by our perceiving something white 

 upon the water ahead, which we at first took to be a piece of ice. It is not 

 easy to imagine the eager impatience with which we rowed towards this sup- 

 posed indication of our approach to the sea on this side, nor our disappoint- 

 ment on coming up to it in finding it only a rock of a yellowish-white colour, 

 just peeping above the water's edge. 



Proceeding along the south-western shore, we left in several places fresh 



