OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 



107 



which direction alone a narrow lane of water appeared to lead towards 1 , 821 - 

 the main land. Pursuing this route, we were again obliged to go on JnrL 

 shore at thirty minutes past one P.M. upon an island on that coast, having 

 failed in our attempt to pass it on the outside. While dining, however, we 

 perceived that a shoal and narrow passage within the island was still clear 

 for about a mile further along shore. Having reached this ne plus ultra, we 

 landed on a coast too shoal and rugged to allow the boats to be hauled 

 up, and at the same time too much encumbered with ice to permit them to 

 be moored afloat with safety. After unloading them therefore we allowed 

 them to ground at high water, watching them as the tide came in. Many 

 deer were seen, and several brace of ptarmigan killed in the course of the 

 day. For eight and forty hours past we had, for the first time this season, 

 experienced difficulty in procuring fresh water for our consumption, the 

 small streams and pools near the sea, on which we had hitherto relied, 

 being now frozen to the bottom. I allude however to the very smallest 

 ones of six or seven inches in depth ; for those which were a foot or two 

 deep had still plenty of water under the ice : and the surface of many of 

 the larger ponds was still unfrozen, except close round the margin. 



The ice remained closely packed on the 21st, as far as we could see Frid. 21. 

 along shore, so that we were still detained in the same place. A party 

 sent out to procure game, killed a deer and a hare : the former after being 

 wounded took a deep lake, into which the people had to swim to get him 

 out. Except these animals, which were here tolerably abundant, the game 

 w T as scarce, though there was no want of feeding for them. The ground- 

 willow was very plentiful, and so dry at this season that we easily pro- 

 cured enough for keeping up a good fire all day. Some snow which 

 fell in the course of the preceding night, lightly powdering the land, had 

 entirely disappeared before the evening, except in places having a northern 

 aspect, where it now permanently remained for the winter. 



On the morning of the 22d the ice was not only as close as ever, but had Sat. 22. 

 forced its way much higher up towards Gore Bay. A party was therefore 

 sent out to endeavour to procure game further inland; and another em- 

 ployed in gathering ground-willow, which was here abundant and in good 

 condition for fuel. Two bears, a female and her cub, being probably at- 

 tracted by the smell of our cooking, came towards the tents upon the 

 ice, but on hearing our voices set off in the opposite direction. A good 

 deal of snow fell in partial showers in the course of the day ; it was nearly 



P 2 



