OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 



329 



the west side we continued our journey, and at half-past six pitched our 

 tents for the night. This day's journey was from hill to hill, over ex- 

 tremely rugged land, frequently interrupted by lakes, which made the 

 course so circuitous that, though in a direct line we could not have ad- 

 vanced more than fifteen miles, we had probably traversed twice that 

 distance. 



" Setting out at four A.M. on the 31st, we now kept more inland than 

 before, and descended into a deep valley, having at the bottom a rapid 

 stream, which Ave were obliged to follow nearly to the sea before we 

 could cross it, after which we got upon tolerably good ground leading 

 gradually up to the hills. We then again began to ascend, hill after 

 hill rising in succession, and the rugged ground being covered with large 

 loose stones, having the space between them filled with snow, which made 

 the walking heavy and dangerous. At noon we had gained a hill of con- 

 siderable height, having walked sixteen miles, and now found ourselves 

 due west of the ships, distant about six leagues. From this station, which 

 was in some respects a commanding one, the bearings and an eye-sketch 

 were taken by Mr. Bush nan, but the land still interrupted our view to the 

 westward, so that in that direction very little more could be ascertained 

 with respect to the extent of the Strait than might be seen from the ships. 

 Notwithstanding this circumstance however, as our provisions were half ex- 

 pended, I deemed it prudent to proceed no farther, especially as the road 

 was now so rugged, that little or nothing more could be effected in a few 

 hours' travelling. At three P.M. therefore we set out on our return to the 

 eastward and reached the Fury before noon on the 2d. 



" In the course of our journey only six rein-deer were seen ; but the 

 tracks of these animals, as well as of bears and foxes, were numerous. From 

 our farthest station on the western hills, which rise perhaps from eight to 

 nine hundred feet above the sea, we observed another head-land beyond 

 the extreme point seen from the ships, and distant from it about three or 

 four leagues ; but the intervention of other land prevented our discovering 

 the trending of the coast further to the westward. The northern land is 

 extremely high, and its western point appeared about ten leagues distant, 

 leaving an extensive opening in that direction. The ice seemed to extend 

 from Amherst Island as far as we. could see to the westward, presenting one 

 unbroken surface from the north to the south shore of the Strait." 



2 u 



