OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE . 



447 



of the 19th that the snow had fallen some inches in depth, and the whole J823 - 

 country round us was covered. Towards noon it ceased snowing, but the 

 piercing cold gale was unabated and drift flew in clouds. Soon after two 19 ' 

 P.M. we quitted the point for another, which still bore about south-east, at 

 which we arrived, after passing over a very flat plain or lake for about seven 

 miles. The snow was here firmer than we had found it of late, and the 

 mountains formed a bight of about four miles in depth on our right. From 

 this point a distant part of the range bore south, and promised to turn to the 

 westward, as we could see nothing beyond it ; we in consequence proceeded 

 briskly for it, and had travelled six miles or half-way, when we saw it take 

 a sweep to very distant hills, south-east. All my hopes of making westing 

 now ceased, and I was aware that nothing could be done in this direction, 

 which certainly was not the route crossed by the natives in their passage to 

 the Western Sea. I therefore struck from off the plain to the foot of the 

 high land about three miles on our right, where we tented, and I determined 

 on waiting till the gale should moderate, when I could retrace my steps to 

 Quilliam Creek, and from thence proceed, if the season would permit, in 

 some other direction. 



" The north-east gale continued during the fore part of the day, yet I 20. 

 should have set out had it not been for the severe pain it caused our faces, 

 and its influence on our snow-shoes, which it sometimes turned quite aside 

 and almost tripped us up. Four large white birds, with black-tipped wings, 

 passed at some distance. In the afternoon we started, and travelling eight 

 hours over the snow, which was somewhat hardened by the gale, reached 

 the little rocky isle on which we had passed the 17th. 



" The wind was unabated on the 21st, and at three P.M. we started, but 21. 

 were soon detained by one of the dogs slipping his harness and giving chase 

 to a couple of deer, which he pursued with great spirit to the hills, where he 

 soon disappeared, regardless of all our cries to stop him. At the expiration of 

 a couple of hours, and when we had advanced two or three miles, giving him 

 up for lost, we saw him tracking our footsteps, and he soon came up much 

 fatigued. We travelled nine hours on this day, yet very slowly, for I had 

 sprained my foot amongst the rocks some days before and it had now 

 become very troublesome. Soon after midnight we arrived and tented at 

 the place where we slept on the 16th ; deer were abundant, and a buck was 

 shot near the tent. We this day saw four brent-geese and several large 

 flocks of ducks. 



